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Dominant Sidley held at Ticehurst

Goalscorer Arron Scrase

Ticehurst 1 - 1 Sidley United - ESFL Division One - Saturday 5th September

Sometimes in life you don't always get what you deserve. 

So that proved the case on Saturday for Sidley United, who dominated this match and yet only came away with a point thanks in no small measure to man of the match Ticehurst goalkeeper Ryan Hunt.

The Blues began brightly and kicking downhill in the first half soon got on top. Arron Scrase had the first real opportunity as he beat Hunt to a ball over the defence but his header went agonisingly wide. Hunt produced the first of several wonder saves shortly after when Ashley Elphick's thunderous volley was somehow tipped onto the bar and over by Hunt.

Another good low save from a deceptive cross saw the sides go in at half time goalless. The trend continued despite Sidley kicking up hill in the second half with Simon Corke denied by Hunt before Sidley suffered a real shock.

A good bit of skill down the right by the Ticehurst forward and a bit of a lucky ricochet in the area saw Rob Briley slot the ball into the net on 57 minutes to give Ticehurst the lead against the run of play and all the missed chances seemed like they were going to cost Sidley.

In fact things could have got worse almost straight from kick off as a sloppy ball was cut out and Ticehurst raced through but managed only to find the angle of the crossbar from a wide angle. 

Sidley made a double substitution as they got back on the front foot and substitute Aaron Cochrane created Sidley's equaliser as he picked out a wonderful cross to the back post where the pacey Arron Scrase got in to head past Hunt on 72 minutes.

Sensing that the advantage was back with them, Sidley pressed for the winner. Corke had the ball in the net with a header but the offside flag denied him before Hunt made another top save, tipping Corke's powerful shot onto the bar. Despite the rest of the game being played in the Ticehurst half, Sidley were unable to find the breakthrough and had to settle for a point.

Disappointing not to win a game that Sidley so thoroughly dominated for long spells, but on the positive side the team played well for the most part and on another day may have scored more.

Sidley Team: Rogers, May, Hempe, Funnell, Eldridge, Day (Thompson), Carey (Godden), Sanderson, Elphick (Cochrane), Scrase, Corke.

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