Sidley come through cup match after extra time
(September 27, 2014)
Pebsham Sibex 1 - 3 Sidley United - After Extra Time - Wisdens Sports Cup
This game began with some confusion - before the kick-off! With the home side playing in grey shirts and shorts and Sidley arriving in their strip of Navy shirts and shorts, the Referee was not happy with what he regarded as a clash of colours. Sidley chairman, Dickie Day, was despatched to fetch Sidlley's away shirts and the match was started in the interim.
The game itself got off to a shaky start when both sides had a player dismissed in the 6th minute. A clash between Kevin Rose and the Pebsham No.11 escalated needlessly with the Pebsham player headbutting Rose in the face causing a split lip. Kevin somewhat understandably took exception to this and retaliated by throwing a punch at the Pebsham player and the referee had no choice but to show them both the red card.
Sidley had to alter their shape to adapt to this loss, with Lee Short dropping into the Centre Back position. When the dust had settled and the game resumed, Sidley tried to get their passing game going against a determined Pebsham side who clearly weren't going to let the fact that they play one division below Sidley stop them competing. The away kit arrived after half an hour causing a brief halt in play while the Sidley players changed shirts. The change must have helped, as Sidley did get the breakthrough in the 35th minute when Harry Burchette scored to settle Sidley nerves but despite their pressure, Sidley were unable to add to their tally in the first half.
The second half began with Anthony Briscoe hitting the post for Sidley but this early promise soon faded as the game became a stalemate of long balls from both sides. Pebsham seemed more "up for it" though, and equalised in the 65th minute with a goal from Lee Smart. Sidley did have chances to score, but were wasteful in front of goal with some poor attempts at finishing.
The game petered out as full-time approached and the inevitability of extra time became apparent. The first period of extra time began where full-time had left off; both sides hitting the ball long and hoping for the best. Eventually the best turned out to be James Bailey for Sidley, slotting the ball home after good work from Will Dunstall.
With the home side fading as cramp set in, it started to look like Sidley had finally got on top. The best goal of the game came right at the death, when Scott Slater picked up the ball in his own half before dribbling through the opposition and calmly placing his shot beyond the Pebsham goalkeeper. We got there in the end but it wasn't pretty! Next up for the Blues is Framfield & Blackboys United in the 1st round of the Sussex FA Junior Cup.
Sidley Team: Payne, May, Walker (Dunstall), Rose, Slater, Carroll (Sanderson), Bailey, Short, Briscoe, Burchette, Rankin (T Funnell).
Click here to return to the News page
