2023/24

Sidley United 3 - 1 Hooe - Macron Hastings Challenge Cup Second Round - Saturday 11th November 2023

Sidley United shook off the enforced break as they saw off ground sharers Hooe to reach the Quarter Finals of the Macron Hastings Challenge Cup. 

Before kick off club chairman Dickie Day was presented with his 50 year service award; marking an incredible contribution that has seen him act as player, manager and chairman in that time. The current Blues cohort were determined to continue the feel good factor on the pitch.

Sidley Team: Jack, May, Mote, Dangerfield, Hempe, Carey, Thompson, Burgon, Ball, T. Atkin, A.Atkin. Subs: O'Callaghan, Bradbury, Geogen, Shaw.

Sidley United 3 - 2 Bexhill Town - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 21st October 2033

Archie Ball was the hero as Sidley United struck a late winner to claim a huge three points and move up a place in the ESFL Premier Division. 

The bottom two sides came into this game knowing this was a huge match for both but it was Sidley who looked the stronger with Town strikers all too often unable to stay onside. It was a moment of fortune though that put Sidley in front as Simon Corke attempted a cross from the left hand side, mis-hit it and it looped rightover the Town goalkeeper and into the net on 25 minutes.

town were then further shocked as Sidley doubled the lead a minute later. A ball in from the right was deflected into the air by a defender for Ball to head home his first of the afternoon. Sidley were in the ascendancy but their bad habits of conceding penalties emerged again as Gary Hempe brought down a striker in the box and Jake Hemsley squeezed the spot kick under stand-in goalkeeper Harvey Jack on 35 minutes. 

The game was still there for both sides at half time but Town drew level with another penalty on 54 minutes when Callum Sheriff brought down former Blue Will Witham and again Hemsley converted to bring the sides level. 

Neither team was prepared to settle for the draw though, both pushing forward but it was Sidley who struck on 75 minutes as Ball played a neat one-two to get in on goal and poke the ball underneath the onrushing goalkeeper to restore Sidley's lead. 

And this time they managed to hold onto it as they defended resiliently to claim the points and move above Hawkhurst United ahead of the game against them next week where the Blues will be targeting three more points.

Sidley Team: Jack, May, Hempe, C Sherriff, Eldridge, Burgon, J Sherriff, Croucher, Wade, Corke, Ball. Subs: O'Callaghan, Mote. 

Hollington United 2 - 0 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division  - Saturday 14th October 2023

 

Westfield 2 - 0 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 7th October 2023

Sidley United suffered that sinking feeling on Saturday as two penalties - plus a red card for goalkeeper Ritchie Gray - saw them beaten at second placed Westfield. 

After picking up their first points of the campaign, Sidley came into the game against a high flying Westfield side with some renewed confidence themselves and were in the game, competing well against the hosts. However on 37 minutes Gray conceded a reckless penalty coming out to challenge a Westfield forward and Joe Page tucked away the resulting spot kick as Westfield went in at the break a goal ahead.

Sidley may have felt there was still a chance for them to get back in the game but that chance faded on 59 minutes. Gray felt that he was kicked out at by a Westfield player and retaliated in kind, earning himself a red card from the referee. A goal and a man down, Sidley then conceded another penalty on 68 minutes with the outcome the same as the first one; Page converting from the spot.

Sidley continued to compete but ultimately the damage was done and the home side held on to take the points. Sidley can look ahead to another local derby against Hollington United at The Gibbons Field next week.

Sidley Team: Gray, May, Hempe, Eldridge, Bradbury, Jack, Carey, Burgon, Ball, T.Atkin, A.Atkin. Sub: Croucher.

Sidley United 3 - 2 St Leonards Social - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 30th September 2023

Sidley United finally picked up their first three points of the league campaign as they saw off St Leonards Social at Hooe Rec. 

The Blues began positively and took the lead after just 7 minutes as Andy Atkin headed home for his first goal of the season. And the Blues would double the lead 5 minutes later as Atkin did brilliantly well to cross for Ash Carey to score.

Social though recovered to get a foothold in the game and they reduced the arrears when they were awarded a penalty which was tucked home by Mark Larkin on 42 minutes.

The Blues have developed a concerning habit of letting leads slip and they must have feared history would repeat itself when Social levelled on 62 minutes with a goal from Nour Eid.

But the duck was broken as Archie Ball netted a third Sidley goal on 68 minutes with the Blues holding out to take the points and close the gap on the teams above them.

Sidley Team: Gray, May, Hempe, Mote, Goergen, Carey, Burgon, Wade, T. Atkin, Ball, A.Atkin. Subs: Dangerfield, Jack, Bradbury.

Rye Town 3 - 1 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 23rd September 2023

The enforced break failed to halt a worrying pattern as for the third time in four matches, Sidley United gave up a lead to end up with defeat in the ESFL Premier Division. 

The first 20 minutes belonged to Sidley - against the expectation given the two teams' starts - and Archie Ball gave the Blues the lead. 

However Rye proved that last season's excellent form was no fluke as they turned the game around before half time. First Sammy Foulkes equalised on 23 minutes before Will Brown put the home side in front on 35 minutes. 

Worse followed as Charlie Stevens scored a direct free kick from the edge of the penalty area on 40 minutes to put Rye firmly in command. It could have been worse for the Blues as 2 minutes before half time Rye won a penalty but Ritchie Gray guessed correctly to keep out the spot kick.

In the second half Sidley created a couple of half chances and hit the post with one but ultimately were unable to grab a goal that would have possibly frayed the Rye nerves as they came away empty handed.

Sidley Team: Gray, May, Hempe, Carey, Bradbury, Burgon, Eldridge, Wade, Ball, T. Atkin, Copley. Subs: Dangerfield.

Crowhurst vs Sidley Team - Sussex FA Intermediate Cup First Round - Saturday 9th September 2023

Match not played as Sidley United unable to raise a team. Walkover win for Crowhurst. 

Sidley United 0 - 3 Punnetts Town - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 2nd September 2023

Sidley United moved to the foot of the ESFL Premier Division table after a disappointing afternoon at Hooe Rec. 

With the Blues only able to field a bare 11, the visitors controlled the match from start to finish although it took a spectacular strike from Pat Johnson from 25 yards to get the ball rolling on 14 minutes. 

Sidley struggled to create many opportunities but were putting up a valiant effort against free scoring Punnetts. They will be disappointed with the second goal though as a shot cannoned back off the underside of the crossbar and with the Blues slow to react, Craig Norman ran in to head the loose ball into the net on 32 minutes. 

Two down at the break, Sidley kept going and the second half was more an even affair. Harry Worsell got the third goal with a looping left foot finish into the top corner on 76 minutes to effectively seal the win.

Louis Walder was shown a late red card for the visitors after saying something to the referee to earn a second yellow card but this mattered little as the visitors saw out the game to claim all three points.

For Sidley a tough start to the season and they will look to regroup and go again in the coming weeks.

Sidley Team: Gray, May, Eldridge, Burgon, Carey, Croucher, Witham, Corke, Wade, Ball, Atkin.

Bexhill A.A.C 4 - 1 Sidley United - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 26th August 2023

It was almost a repeat performance for Sidley United as they surrendered a lead to come away empty handed, conceding late goals in the second week in a row.

The Blues came into the game smarting from throwing away the opening game against Sandhurst and began positively with Cam Burgon hitting the crossbar and Archie Ball denied what appeared to be a stonewall penalty.

The hosts created a number of half chances but it was the Blues who took the lead on 34 minutes as Ball did well and whipped a great ball in which Lewis Wade got on the end of to flick the ball home. The lead wasn't to last though with Sidley already fortunate not to concede when Athletic somehow contrived to miss an open goal but some lapse defending allowed Harley Ransom levelled on 38 minutes.

The second half saw Sidley struggle to get up the field with fitness perhaps starting to become more of an issue. Despite this, they were defending well and the game was evenly balanced until Athletic struck on 78 minutes. A ball through on the left hand side saw the ball tapped across for the striker to tuck home.

In worringly similar fashion to the previous week, Sidley then conceded further late goals as the third goal saw a ball struck from distance which landed at the feet of Louis Haffendend to slot home on 87 minutes whilst the fourth came when the referee judged Ritchie Gray was not fouled and dropped the ball to a Athletic player to strike home in stoppage time.

Whilst other results in the league actually saw Sidley rise a place, the Blues are going to have to dig deep and look to tackle the issues which have seen late goals become a running theme before they take on a Crowhurst side who have started the season with 2 wins from 2.

Sidley Team: Gray, May, Eldridge, Dangerfield, Burgon, Carey, Witham, Bossom, Ball, Wade, Atkin. Subs: Croucher, Corke. 

Sidley United 2 - 5 Sandhurst - ESFL Premier Division - Saturday 19th August 2023

It was an opening day defeat for the Blues who blew a lead in a calamitous 10 minute end to the game as Sandhurst came away from Hooe Rec with all 3 points on the opening day.

It was the worst possible start for the Blues as Sandhurst struck after just 38 seconds; flimsy challenges presented the chance for the ball to be crossed in to Rob Briley who struck past Ritchie Gray to give the visitors the lead,

The Blues took some time to warm up but they levelled on 31 minutes as a long ball forward found Andy Atkin who flicked the ball on to Archie Ball to finish well past the Sandhurst goalkeeper. Both teams battled as the sides went in level at the break.

In the second period, Sidley seemed to have a bit more measure of the game and took the lead on 66 minutes. With a Sandhurst defender late coming out, the Blues found themselves in front of goal and Zak Dangerfield beat the goalkeeper to the bouncing ball to head into the net and give the home side the lead.

A goal ahead and with 10 minutes to go, the game was in Sidley's hand. But rather than Sandhurst wrestling it away from them, it was more a case that Sidley threw it away themselves. On 80 minutes Sandhurst levelled when the ball was played across to Harry Morrell on the right hand side with Gray choosing to come out of his goal to meet him; allowing Morrell a simple task to slot the ball past him and into the net.

Worse was to come a few minutes later as Sidley failed to deal with a ball forward and James Found struck low past Gray to give the visitors the lead. And then as the game entered stoppage time, Sidley conceded another 2 poor goals with defensive errors at the heart of the end result.

A disappointing start to the season for the Blues who must now pick themselves up and look to pick up a result next Saturday as they travel to Bexhill A.A.C.

Sidley Team: Gray, May, Hempe, Burgeon, Geoghan, Carey, Witham, Bossom, Wade, Ball, Atkin. Subs: Bradbury, Dangerfield, Eldridge, Corke, Croucher.