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Blues horror show in derby defeat

Sidley United 2 - 5 Bexhill A.A.C - ESFL Premier Division

Halloween may have been this week but it was a defensive horror show from a depleted Sidley United side that allowed Bexhill A.A.C to pick up a first league win of the season on Saturday.

The Blues were missing all their recognised strikers as well as Gary Hempe and a makeshift side struggled to find any goal threat in the first half. But it was at the back that the damage was done. The visitors struck on 14 minutes when a corner clipped the crossbar and the striker reacted quickest to tap home.

Then static defending allowed Ben Ferguson to turn in the box and slot home a second goal on 16 minutes before a calamitous short goal kick routine allowed a third to be struck home on 22 minutes.

Sidley got a goal back on 38 minutes when Joe Lyne's free kick flew past the player elected to go in goal for the visitors who themselves were struggling and there was real hope for Sidley five minutes into the second half when the 'goalkeeper' fumbled Lyne's free kick allowing Archie Ball to stab the ball over the line to bring the arrears down to a single goal.

However, further defensive frailties cost the Blues as A.A.C sprung an offside trap and a cross from the right was headed home on 67 minutes before another error when an attempted backpass to Gray was too short and allowed the Athletic striker to slot home with ease on 82 minutes.

Sidley toiled but the damage was done and self-inflicted it was too. The Blues will hope for a better faring when they face the same opposition next week in the Second Round of the Macron Challenge Cup.

Sidley Team: Gray, L.Mote, Freeman, May, Lyne, S.Atkin, Carey, Thompson, Witham, Ball, Robb. Subs: Van Wyk, K.Atkin.

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