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Copley at double as Blues beat Bridge

Sidley United 3 - 1 Robertsbridge United - ESFL Premier Division 

Two goals from Logan Copley and a thunderbolt from Andy Atkin earned Sidley United all three points as they moved up to sixth place in the ESFL Premier Division. 

The Blues began on the front foot against the division's basement side and they took the lead on 4 minutes as a glorious long ball from Gary Hempe beat the Bridge defence and Copley poked the goal past Guy Ballard - regular striker but today in goal - and into the net.

But going a goal up against the bottom placed side so early may have actually been a negative for the Blues who seemed to take their foot off the pedal, with too many lacking in energy for the next 20 minutes as Robertsbridge got back into the game. They deservedly levelled when Lewis Chapman was left in space to get a shot away and although Ritchie Gray did well to parry his effort, Ryan Penney was on hand to follow up to equalise on 25 minutes.

Robertsbridge may even have taken the lead but Turner struck the crossbar with a free kick as the sides went in level at the break. 

Sidley knew they needed to up their game and they did so as Andy Atkin smashed home on 55 minutes after Ash Carey had flicked the ball onto him. Despite this tough, Sidley were indebted to Gray who brilliantly kept out Turner with his feet to preserve the lead. With both sides' energy levels dropping, it was the pace of Archie Ball that proved to be the cataylst for the third Sidley goal. A good hook forward from Dan Hilder saw Ball win the race with the Bridge defender and once he arrived a simple square ball across goal allowed Copley to strike the ball into the net on 72 minutes.

The Blues brought on Dan Georgen for a debut and he looked assured as Sidley continued to push forward. A staggering 9 minutes of stoppage time proved largely uneventful as Sidley held on for all three points to move up to sixth place in the table. Next week Sidley return to Bexhill college as they face current league leaders Bexhill Town.

Sidley Team: Gray, Hilder (B. Atkin), Mote (Wade), Bradbury, Hempe, Shaw (Georgen), Witham, Ball, Carey, Copley, A. Atkin.

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