Charity match does have a future

BOTH clubs agree that the cross-town derby match between Bexhill United and Sidley United does have a future despite a slightly disappointing Bexhill Observer Charity Shield clash.

The official attendance of 169 fell short of the desired figure despite the perfect weather while the second half of the match was largely a non-event with Sidley, who by that stage were fielding virtually a reserve team and still looked the better side, cruising home.

The promised fireworks and ra-ra girls never materialised - the former at the short-notice request of Rother District Council.

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Last year's tremendously successful event at Gullivers, which attracted in excess of 500 fans, was always going to be a hard act to follow. The enforced early kick-off time of 6.30pm doubtless didn't help and perhaps the loss of the novelty factor and both clubs' poor form also contributed.

But Bexhill chairman Dave Harris, the driving force behind the event, doesn't think this should be the end. He said: "I think there will always be a future for the derby but it won't really take off until Bexhill can give them a stern test and that won't be long in coming. I suppose for a club that's not been producing results lately you couldn't expect a much bigger crowd really. I think it does need something to lift it but it needs thinking about."

Sidley joint manager Andy Laskey said: "It was a good evening and I thought it all went off quite well but when you compare it to last year it was a disappointing crowd. Without a doubt it's got a future but it probably needs something just to lift it a little bit. Whether perhaps you could get Little Common involved as well and perhaps in pre-season as well. Maybe you could play two kids games before kick-off and have a final at half time and perhaps a bouncy castle up there as well. But fair play to Dave Harris: he came up with the idea and proved last year there's an attraction to it."

For the record Sidley won 3-0 thanks to a pair of first half goals from Kevin Rose, the first a looping effort from wide on the left and the second a Gaizka Mendieta style penalty, and a second half third from Shae Spreafico. Kris Kayne struck the Sidley crossbar with a first half header.

A total of 327 will go to McMillan Nurses (200 from the Bexhill Observer, 72 from the raffle and the 55 officials' expenses) while the clubs each claim 214 from the gate receipts.