2021/22

Sedlescombe Rangers 2 - 3 Sidley United - MSFL Premier Division - Saturday 28th August 2021

A stoppage time winner from Charlie Cornford earned all three points and kept Sidley's winning run going. 

It looked like the Blues would have a comfortable afternoon early on as they took a two goal lead. First a neat move played in Sam Crabb clean through on goal and he finished smartly past former Blue stopper Peter Newstead on 16 minutes. 

The lead was then doubled on 31 minutes when a long throw from Cornford was half cleared before being fired across the box for Paul Rogers to turn the ball home from close range to continue his run of scoring in every game since joining the club.

But the Blues may have taken their foot off the pedal at that point and the home side pulled a goal back on 36 minutes when a shot was parried out by Sidley goalkeeper Phil Hawkins and Liam Cobley was quickest to slot home the rebound. 

And Sedlescombe levelled the scores just before half time as Sidley appealed in vein for offside before the ball was cut back to Ben Seal whose shot crept into the net via the inside of the post. 

The second half saw Sedlescombe sitting deeper and trying to catch Sidley on the counter. Alan Foster came close to restoring the Sidley lead but his curling shot came back off the crossbar. 

Cornford's long throw was a weapon Sidley looked to use to their advantage and it caused the home side problems on a number of occasions but the final touch just seemed to be evading the Blues. 

But in the first minute of stoppage time, Man of the Match Cornford went on a strong run, passing his man on the right of the area and despite being forced wide, he managed to beat Newstead to the ball with his shot rolling into the far corner to secure all three points. 

A tough result for Sedlescombe who were worthy of getting something from the game but for the Blues that's two weeks in a row where late goals have earned them full points. 

Sidley Team: Hawkins, S Crabb, McEniry, Elliott-Noye, Walker, Ellis, Foster, Elphick, Baldwin, Cornford, Rogers. Subs: Featherstone, N Crabb, Williams. 

Eastbourne Rangers 1 - 2 Sidley United - MSFL Premier Division - Saturday 21st August 2021

Two late goals turned this game around as Sidley United came from behind to steal victory at Eastbourne Rangers. 

The home side began well and had the ball in the net when a free kick from the left was turned home but this was correctly chalked off for an offside offence. That really though was the highlight of the half as an even battle ensued with both sides rather cancelling each other out. 

Thankfully the second period was more lively but it was Rangers who struck the opening blow on 52 minutes. A good move down the right hand side saw the ball fired across the box and, in trying to clear, Josh Elliott-Noye was unlucky to turn the ball into the net for an own goal. 

This lifted Rangers who may have got a second before the game became a little fractious in the final quarter. Sidley levelled on 82 minutes when they counter attacked on Rangers and the ball fell to Paul Rogers who hit a firm strike which the home goalkeeper could not keep out despite getting a hand to it.

A frustrated Rangers player was then sin-binned for dissent, further handing Sidley the momentum. And from a corner on 87 minutes substitute Zac McEniry headed home after the Rangers goalkeeper got lost in the middle to give Sidley the lead.

Sidley substitute Arron Scrace was shown a straight red card from the sideline for delaying the restart of play as tensions rose on the touchline but Sidley kept their heads on the pitch to hold on and make it 2 wins from 2.

The Man of the Match award was split between Chris Cumming-Bart and Steve Hickman. Next week Sidley travel to Sedlescombe Rangers. 

Sidley Team: Winterton, S Crabb, McCue, Elliott-Noye, Hickman, Ellis, Foster, Carey, Baldwin, Cumming-Bart, Rogers. Subs: Elphick, Cornford, Trickett, McEniry. 

Holland Sports 0 - 3 Sidley United - MSFL Premier Division - Saturday 14th August 2021

Sidley United kicked off the new MSFL season with a 3 - 0 win away at newly-promoted Holland Sports.

The Blues fielded a number of new signings and began with positvitiy, controlling possession and pressing the home side. However it was at the other end that the first flashpoint occurred as on 12 minutes Sidley won the ball back in their own third and Holland Sports' George Smith landed a stamp on a Blues player, earning himself a straight red card in the process.

This would strengthen Sidley's control of the game, even though Nathan Crabb was forced off with a knock, but it was the home side who had a glorious chance to strike the first blow when they were awarded a controversial penalty on 26 minutes as Phil Hawkins was adjudged to have fouled a Sports player despite clearly punching the ball away before they collided. However Sidley were reprieved when the resulting spot kick was steered wide of the post.

The home side had to change their goalkeeper who picked up an injury with a defender taking over between the posts before Sidley broke through on 38 minutes. Charlie Cornford did well to beat his man and get to the byline on the left before rolling the ball across for Paul Rogers to turn the ball home from close range.

A goal and a man up at the break, Sidley would strengthen their grip on the game just 2 minutes into the second half when a corner from the right found Sam Crabb unmarked to turn the ball home.

Crabb would then go on to hit the woodwork twice more before Sidley finally put the game to bed when Rogers finished from outside the area on 81 minutes. A good late save by Hawkins ensured the Blues kept a clean sheet and started the campaign in perfect fashion.

The Sidley Man of the Match was Louis Walker. The Blues travel to Eastbourne Rangers next Saturday.

Sidley Team: Hawkins, S Crabb, McCue, Walker, Elliott-Noye, Ellis, Carey, Baldwin, Cumming-Bart, N Crabb, Rogers. Subs: Cornford, Foster, Elphick.