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Baldwin double helps Sidley beat Hollington, Reserves downed at Tackleway

Hollington United 1 - 4 Sidley United - MSFL Premier Division

A brace from Sean Baldwin helped Sidley United to a commanding win in this top of the table clash. 

The visitors began confidently but the opening exchanges indicated this would be a predictably full blooded affair with some firm challenges going in. However Sidley played their football and took the lead on 20 minutes when a free kick from the left led to a scramble in the six yard box with Alan Foster poking home from close range against his former side. 

Sidley doubled the lead on 25 minutes when a great cross from Lee Carey found Baldwin who controlled and finished confidently into the net. Hollington looked most threatening from set pieces but they pulled a goal back when a neat move played Ricky Martin in and he finished high into the net on 35 minutes. 

Hollington then had a spell of pressure and could have levelled but it was Sidley instead who restored their two goal lead with a terrific goal in the first minute of stoppage time as full back Louis Walker dipped his shoulder to beat his man and curled the ball into the top corner of the net. 

In the second half Hollington had a couple of opportunities from set pieces but couldn't find the target although Sidley were grateful to Josh Elliott-Noye for a goal-line clearance after the striker had lifted the ball over Michael Platt. 

As Hollington pushed, Sidley clinically hit them on the counter to wrap up the game on 79 minutes as Man of the Match Baldwin was played clean through on goal and despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to his shot, the ball trickled over the line and into the net. 

Hollington finished the game with 10 men as Callum Smith was sin-binned for dissent as Sidley saw out the game to take a firm grip on the title race. 

Manager John Carey said after the game "It was a great result for us today, the boys worked their socks off. It wasn't the prettiest of games but sometimes it's about rolling up your sleeves and grinding out a result which we did. 

I'm over the moon for them. Sometimes it pays to have a settled side rather than trying to bring players in for one game to try and get a result as was proven today. 

We move on to another tough game next week at home to Ringmer AFC. Thank you to all the supporters who came over today, it means a lot to us and we hope to have another good crowd next week because it makes such a difference."

Sidley Team: Platt, Clifford, Walker, Elliott-Noye, Hickman-Smith, Bristow (McEniry) Thompson, Ellis, Foster (Cornford), Carey, Baldwin (Elphick).

The J.C Tackleway 4 - 0 Sidley United II - ESFL Division One

Report to follow... 

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