SIDLEY FEELING BLUE

And the same can be said of the Blues' performance in this free-flowing, entertaining fixture: promised much, but delivered little.

For all their admirably neat and tidy passing football in their defensive and middle thirds, promising moves frequently broke down in the attacking region.

And although strikers Wes Tate and Karl Tarrant did an adequate job individually, the fact that they were invariably so far apart meant their link-up play was virtually non-existant even though they are still doubtless familiarising themselves with each other's games.

By contrast Whitehawk's attack-minded players combined to great effect with both goals the result of well-worked moves. Put simply, that was the major difference between two evenly-matched sides in a match that United actually shaded.

But at least the loyal crop of Blues followers witnessed a far better showing than against Arundel three days previously. Generally it was hard to fault their display but unless they develop a greater cutting edge in attack that matches the rest of their play, they will find it hard to break into the top half of Sussex Division One.

Even so they could and perhaps should have got something out of this match. Tate was inches wide of the target when he really ought to have made goalkeeper Tom Rand work after Owen Ball had split the away defence with a majestic pass.

Another factor in the Hawks' favour was that they possessed the best player on the night in midfielder Simon Rowland. Strong and powerful in the centre of the field, he also possessed a keen eye for goal which he proved with two slick finishes.

The first of these came after half an hour and capped a smart sequence of passes across the face of the Sidley box. Liam Barham got a toe to the ball but Rowland still managed to beat Rob Wiley despite being forced away from goal.

Sidley responded positively though and Rand did well to palm the ball over via the crossbar from a sharp Tate shot to the near post.

Terry Cooper then denied Tate as he was about to shoot but home debutant Tarrant snuk in around the back to find the net with a low header from the resulting corner in first half stoppage time.

Toby Phillips then denied Tate after he'd evaded Rand but such opportunities evaporated in the second half, while Whitehawk won it in the 70th minute when Tommy Pattenden's neat touch allowed Kevin Townsend to cross from the by-line. Ryan McBride missed his kick but Rowland didn't and he should have completed his treble late on.

Sidley: Wiley, Maplesden, Ball, L. Wood, Copley, Poole (Hole), Barham, Watson, Tate (J. Wood), Tarrant, Ward. Sub not used: Rose.

SIDLEY UNITED 1

WHITEHAWK 2