Sidley beaten by title favourites
(December 07, 2014)
Sidley United 1 - 3 Bexhill AAC - Division One
Despite the scoreline, Bexhill AAC were made to work hard for this win. Unbeaten to date and widely tipped to win the Division, Bexhill found themselves struggling to get a foot on the ball in the opening 30 minutes, as Sidley started strongly with ex-captain Dan Spice making his second 'debut' for the team.
Will Dunstall hit the post and Sidley had the ball in the net from an Adam Day free kick, but the referee disallowed the goal for a foul on the Bexhill goalkeeper.
Against the run of play, Bexhill opened the scoring in the 31st minute from a Billy Trickett free kick which the Sidley keeper failed to read the flight of. At 1-0 down though, Sidley still shaded the first half.
One became two, however, at the start of the second half, as a Sidley defender fell over as he stood on the ball trying to control it, allowing Bexhill striker Lee Roberts to pick up the loose ball, run into the empty space and stroke the ball past the exposed Sidley keeper.
Bexhill added a third in the 53rd minute following a swift break, again a from ball carelessly given away. Sidley pulled a goal back from an Adam Day free kick on 80 minutes, as the Bexhill keeper fumbled the shot, allowing the ball to trickle over the line.
Sidley pressed hard in the final 10 minutes, but Bexhill soaked up the pressure to hold on for the win.
Not for the first time this season, Sidley were left to rue their failure to convert chances into goals and eliminate individual errors which always seem to be punished.
However, their hard work and team spirit are there for all to see and bode well for the rest of the season, and no doubt every remaining game will be fiercely contested.
Sidley team: Skelton, May, Chandler, Spice, Rose (Miles), Day, Bailey (Walker), Short, M Funnell, T Funnell, Dunstall
Click here to return to the News page
