Second half horror show as Sidley capitulate
(October 18, 2014)
Sidley United 3 - 5 Ticehurst - ESFL Divison One
A second half horror show, strewn with suicidal defending cost Sidley United as a potential three points turned into a humiliation.
Sidley began well and shaded the early play, as both sides presented a threat from set plays. It was Sidley who got the early goals as good pressure from James Walker saw the ball played in to Anthony Briscoe who finished powerfully on 13 minutes. And Sidley continued to press the Ticehurst defenders, again benefiting from winning the ball high up and on 40 minutes George Carroll was the player to turn the ball home. A composed looking Sidley got to half time at 2 - 0 up and on course for three much needed points.
But the second half horror began on 53 minutes as a ball played forward which was heading behind was inexplicably kept alive by a Sidley defender and Ticehurst turned the ball home. 3 minutes later a long throw was nodded back over the goalkeeper by a defender and again allowed an easy far post tap in for the Ticehurst forward to level the score.
Ticehurst then walked the ball through static Sidley defending before rounding home goalkeeper Liam Bryant to take the lead on 60 minutes. More suicidal defensive play, this time from Scott Slater who gave the ball away and then rashly brought down the forward, presented Ticehurst with a penalty on 62 minutes which was calmly converted.
Heads dropped and some Sidley players visibly gave up, which simply wasn't acceptable. A fifth goal soon arrived as Ticehurst simply overran the shell shocked home defence and within 15 minutes a two-goal lead had turned into a 5 - 2 deficit.
The game became rather stretched towards the end and Sidley pulled a goal back on 87 minutes when Ryan Rankin slotted home from a cutback by Will Dunstall, who did well coming on as a sub. Unfortunately the great comeback did not materialise and the referee blew to complete a game of two completely contrasting Sidley performances.
Whilst defeat is never pleasant, certain players need to seriously question their attitude in the second half. The defeat leaves Sidley second bottom of the Divison, and on this showing need a real turnaround to avoid remaining there. There is an early opportunity for revenge as we meet Ticehurst again next week away in Round Two of the Wisdens Sports Challenge Cup.
Sidley team: Bryant, May, Cochrane (Rains, Foord), Slater, T Funnell, Day, Burchette (Dunstall), Walker, Briscoe, Rankin, Carroll
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