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Blues crush Rangers to extend lead; Reserves go top with win

(February 05, 2022)

Sidley United 9 - 1 Eastbourne Rangers - MSFL Premier Division

Sidley United thumped Eastbourne Rangers to move 5 points clear at the top of the Mid Sussex Premier league.

The kick off to the match, sponsored by Mowgli, was delayed due to a road accident causing some late arrivals, including that of the referee. But when the game did get going Sidley wasted no time getting about their visitors and took the lead on 18 minutes when Tyler Capon finished off a neat move.

Louis Walker made a clever near post run to head home Charlie Cornford's free kick on 24 minutes before Capon poked home his second goal on 32 minutes on the goal-line after Rangers goalkeeper Kevin Roberts had denied Paul Rogers from close range.

Steve Hickman-Smith headed home a fourth from a corner on 39 minutes and Zac McEniry repeated the trick on 42 minutes with Roberts being sin-binned for dissent in the aftermath of the fifth goal, seeing Rangers temporarily reduced to 10 men.

Sidley made a quick start to the second half as a long throw wasn't dealt with and Capon tapped home for his hat-trick on 49 minutes before Rogers burst past the last defender and slotted home a minute later to make it 7 - 0.

Another corner led to Sidley getting an eighth goal when a Rangers defender unfortunately turned the ball home on 64 minutes but Rangers did net a consolation as Kyle Daines struck when Sidley themselves failed to deal with a corner on 66 minutes.

A lovely Lee Carey strike from the edge of the area made it 9 for Sidley on 76 minutes and they had the chance to hit double figures when Capon was wiped out in the area but Cornford smashed the crossbar with the resultant penalty.

However, the miss was immaterial as Sidley moved five points clear due to challengers Ringmer being held to a draw. Next week Sidley turn their focus to the Sussex FA Intermediate Cup when they entertain West Sussex Championship side Harting.

Sidley Team: Hutchins, Walker, Featherstone, McEniry, Hickman-Smith, Foster, Ellis, Cumming-Bart, Cornford, Capon, Rogers. Subs: Smart, McCue, S Crabb, Carey, N Crabb.

Peche Hill Select 0 - 3 Sidley United II - ESFL Division One

Sidley United II's moved top of the ESFL Division One as Sean Baldin bagged a hat-trick in a 3 - 0 victory at Peche Hill Select.

A depleted Blues side began well in the windy conditions that the Tilekiln Rec always has to offer and they could have led within 10 minutes as a scramble in the Peche box fell to the feet of Nick Hardy who could only steer his shot wide of the goal.

Sidley continued to post a threat and won a penalty when Ash Elphick was brought down. Gary Hempe stepped up to take the resulting spot kick but his effort hit the inside of the post and rolled along the goal line before being cleared.

Sidley continued to press though and the breakthrough finally came with a ball forward to debutant Linton Rogers who chested it into the path of Baldwin who took a touch then unleashed a trademark strike past the goalkeeper. One became two when Simon Corke skipped into the box and fizzed a pass across to Baldwin at the back post who squeezed his shot in past 2 defenders on the goal line to put the Blues 2 - 0 up before the break.

The second half was played at a much slower tempo with the home side attacking with the wind behind them. Peche continued to press with the Sidley back line holding strong with George Rayner putting in some vital challenges.

With the game pushing towards the full time whistle some good work in the Peche half by Corke drew foul on the edge of the box allowing Baldwin to step up and complete his hat-trick with a superb curling free kick into the top right corner of the net.

A well deserved 3 points for the Blues who now currently sit top of Division 1 by 3 points having played 2 more games than title rivals Bexhill A.A.C.

Sidley Team: Crittenden, Rayner, Freeman, Davies, Hempe, Corke, Gilbert, Hardy, Elphick, Rogers, Baldwin. Subs: Scrace.

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