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Hempe hat trick as Sidley sink Rye

Rye Town 1 - 4 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division

A Gary Hempe hat trick helped Sidley United record a fine away win as they beat Rye Town 4 - 1 for the second time this season.

The Blues made a fast start and took the lead after just 5 minutes. Kingsley Parsons got to the byline and crossed to the far post where Zac McEniry headed down for Sean Baldwin to fire home from close range.

Rye grew into the game and shaded the next 15 minutes, winning a number of free kicks in dangerous positions which ultimately came to nothing. But the home side would draw level from a set piece as a corner was headed home by Barnaby Osborne on 28 minutes.

Sidley didn't let that goal rattle them though and after Chris Copley had hit the bar with a header they retook the lead on 40 minutes. A neat move down the right eventually saw the ball worked to Rosh Wells whose low shot was parried by the Rye goalkeeper and Hempe got to the loose ball first to slot home and restore the Blues' lead.

At half time the game was finely balanced but it was put to bed with two quick fire penalties in the second half. Firstly a free kick that pinballed around in the area was heading towards Lee Carey for a close range finish but he was brought down by a rash challenge and regular penalty taker Hempe stepped up to slot the ball low to the goalkeeper's left to increase Sidley's lead on 60 minutes.

And just 3 minutes later Sidley won another penalty as the ball bounced up and hit a Rye hand with the referee again pointing to the spot. The ever reliable Hempe this time went the other way to complete his hat-trick. Ironically 5 of Hempe's six goals this season have come against Rye including two penalties in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

Rye frustrations grew and after a show of dissent to the referee one of their players was sent to the newly introduced 'sin bin' - the first time Sidley have experienced that this season - for 10 minutes. During that time Rye still looked to hit long balls forward and pressure the Sidley defence but the Blues back line dealt with the threat well and saw out an excellent win.

The Blues turn their attention to cup duties next weekend when they entertain West Sussex Premier League side West Chiltington in the second round of the Sussex FA Intermediate Cup.

Sidley Team: Langley-Fineing, Elphick (Scrace), Hempe (Cole), McEniry, Copley (Dadswell), K Parsons, Elliott-Noye, Wells, Ellis, Carey, Baldwin.

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