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Sidley United went top of the table after 2 goals in the second half beat previous leaders Eastbourne Rangers.

 

Both sides came into the game with maximum points after Sidley United were awarded the 3 points from their opening game against Ticehurst as their goalkeeper Ryan Hunt was not eligible to play in the match and so both sides had a chance to end the day top of the pile. 

 

The visitors, who had scored 18 goals in their opening 3 league games, made a composed opening and fashioned the games best chance early on. A ball over the top saw a Rangers player free down the right but his cross was steered over the bar by the striker with only Rogers to beat.

 

Sidley gradually began to get the ball further forward and the game was very even in the first half with Rangers looking for the quick ball over the top and Sidley getting some success down the wings but the first half ended 0 - 0.

 

Blues began the second period better and slowly but surely the play was more often in and around the Rangers penalty area. Still though clear cut chances were at a premium until the opening goal.

 

A ball into the area fell at the feet of Arron Scrace who smashed an effort against the underside of the bar. As others stopped to appeal that the ball had crossed the line, Scrace himself put the uncertainty to bed by heading the rebound past the goalkeeper to give Sidley the lead on 65 minutes.

 

Sensing that the game was slipping away from them, Rangers pressed forward more and allowed themselves to be more vulnerable to the counter attack. Both Scrace and Corke had good chances to get the second goal but could not find the net to relieve the nerves.

 

However Sidley did get the second goal as the game moved into the 90th minute. Substitute Aaron Cochrane worked the ball across well to find fellow sub James Bailey at the far post and somehow he bundled the ball home to finally seal the win.

 

An excellent victory against a strong Eastbourne Rangers side and even more impressively perhaps was a clean sheet which was well deserved by a Blues team who defended resolutely and took their chances when they came, which was the difference in the end.

 

Sidley Team: Rogers, May, Hempe, Funnell, Copley, Carey, Sanderson, Elphick (Bailey), Thompson (Cochrane), Scrace, Corke (Roberts)