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Sidley win dramatic topsy-turvy clash

Sidley United 4 - 3 Little Chelsea - Division One

Sidley United picked up their first home win of the season in a game they had won, threw away and then won again.

The visitors kicked off with 10 men due to one of their number running late and Sidley almost immediately made them pay as after 30 seconds James Bailey had a great chance to score but dragged his shot wide. With the numerical advantage evened up shortly into the half, Sidley grew in dominance and were rewarded soon after.

A good ball in on 27 minutes from Bailey found Anthony Briscoe and his low shot couldn't be kept out by the goalkeeper. Sidley's second goal came on 35 minutes after Adam Day played a neat one-two and his shot deflected off a defender and looped into the net before his lay off to Mark Funnell saw the striker finish smartly and allowed Sidley to go 3 - 0 ahead on 40 minutes.

But a familiar story looked like unfolding as the second half began. On 46 minutes a Little Chelsea forward ran through and rounded Adam Skelton to bring the visitors back into the game. And they pulled a second goal back with a fine strike on 49 minutes as Sidley visibly grew nervous of yet again surrendering a lead.

The comeback was completed on 71 minutes as Little Chelsea won and converted a penalty and at that point the game could have gone either way. As it was it was Sidley who grabbed the winner on 75 minutes as George Carroll stayed on his feet and slotted into the far corner.

Both sides had chances after that and Little Chelsea felt aggrieved that they had a goal chalked off for offside at a free-kick but Sidley held on for a victory that lifted them up to 7th in the table.

Having lost such a comprehensive lead, it would have been easy to cave in completely once parity was restored but Sidley showed real desire to go on and win the game and hopefully that will breed confidence ahead of the trip to Sandhurst next Saturday.

Sidley team: Skelton, May, Chandler (Miles), T Funnell (Carroll), Walker, Bailey (Rankin), Day, Short, Dunstall, Briscoe, M Funnell

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