Saturday 17th September 2016

[blueboybird]

Buoyed by the positivity of seeing other people writing on this forum I am this week writing to avoid the old 'you only report when you're winning' suggestion! More than worthy of a point but as the report suggest finishing cost us today. Anyway, lets hope that more regular reports become a feature on the thread.

Battle Baptists 1 - 0 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division.

Sidley United were left to rue an inability to turn possession into goals as they slipped to a first defeat of the season at Battle Baptists.

Blues started well against last year's runners up with Jordan Cole going close to opening the scoring. The best chance though fell to Micky O'Callaghan, playing further upfield, who had two efforts well blocked.

Battle hadn't created much but they grabbed the lead on 39 minutes with a well taken goal. A deflection took the ball into the path of Jules Phillips who cleverly chipped the onrushing Rogers and saw the effort go in off the underside of the bar.

Sidley thought they had equalised right on the half time whistle as Dan Hill hooked an effort from a corner towards goal which the goalkeeper pushed away but Blues players felt that the ball had crossed the line first. However the referee instead blew for half time instead of a goal.

Sidley dominated the second half and had several chances. First Hill flashed an effort wide after latching on to a weak header back to the goalkeeper before a dangerous Hempe free kick somehow evaded the onrushing Blues players.

Battle had chances to wrap up the game on the break late on as Sidley pushed forward but some great last minute challenges and wayward finishing kept the Blues in the game.

However Sidley were unable to convert their pressure into a goal meaning they slipped to a first league defeat of the campaign.

Sidley Team: Rogers, May, Hempe, Eldridge, Copley, Carey, Sanderson, Hill (Bailey), Elphick, O'Callaghan (Brockhurst), Cole.

[Washboy]

Division Two Burwash 2 - 3 Bexhill AAC
(Martin 30, Gooch 39)

Buoyed by a fine win the previous week, Burwash slipped to defeat at home to a determined AAC side.
The visitors started strongly and found themselves two up inside 20 minutes through two penalties, the first some refs would give, some wouldn't but the second was a stonewall foul. It could have been worse as AAC netted again but the referee disallowed it. Burwash fought back and had levelled by half-time thanks to Paul Steed through ball on the half hour for Kieren Martin to score and Stuart Gooch prodding home inside the six yard box before the interval.
The second period was end to end but the match was settled by a mistake when the ball was miscontrolled and AAC netted from the breakaway. Burwash pushed for an equaliser but were continually thwarted by enthusiastic flagging and strong defending.

League Cup action next week as Burwash entertain neighbours Punnetts Town at Swan Meadow, 2.30pm kick-off