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Cornford last minute winner keeps Blues top

Sedlescombe Rangers 2 - 3 Sidley United - MSFL Premier Division

A stoppage time winner from Charlie Cornford earned all three points and kept Sidley's winning run going.

It looked like the Blues would have a comfortable afternoon early on as they took a two goal lead. First a neat move played in Sam Crabb clean through on goal and he finished smartly past former Blues stopper Peter Newstead on 16 minutes.

The lead was then doubled on 31 minutes when a long throw from Cornford was half cleared before being fired across the box for Paul Rogers to turn home from close range to continue his run of scoring in every game since joining the club.

But the Blues may have taken their foot off the pedal at that point and the home side pulled a goal back on 36 minutes when a shot was parried out by Sidley goalkeeper Phil Hawkins and Liam Cobley was quickest to slot home the rebound.

And Sedlescombe levelled the scores just before half time as Sidley appealed on vein for offside before the ball was cut back to Ben Seal whose shot crept into the net via the inside of the post.

The second half saw Sedlescombe sitting deeper and trying to catch Sidley on the counter. Alan Foster came close to restoring the lead but his curling shot came back off the underside of the crossbar.

Cornford's long throw was a weapon Sidley looked to use to their advantage and it caused the home side problems on a number of occasions but the final touch just seemed to be evading the Blues.

But in the first minute of stoppage time, Man of the Match Cornford went on a strong run, passing his man on the right of the area and despite being forced wide, he managed to beat Newstead to the ball, with his shot rolling into the far corner to secure all three points. 

A tough result for Sedlescombe who were worthy of something from the game but for the Blues that's two weeks in a row where late goals have earned them full points.

Sidley Team: Hawkins, S Crabb, McEniry, Elliott-Noye, Walker, Foster, Elphick, Ellis, Cornford, Baldwin, Rogers. Subs: Featherstone, N Crabb, Williams. 

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