Big wins for Rye & Sidley

Sidley were triumphant at home to Lancing in round two of the John O’Hara League Challenge Cup, while Rye were victorious away to Redhill in Sussex County Football League Division One.

Rye went behind in the first five minutes to a penalty scored by Jimmy Davies, but went on to enjoy a wealth of possession during the remainder of the opening 45 minutes without getting the break they needed in front of goal.

Callum Christie made a brilliant save early in the second period and Rye levelled when summer signing Andy Atkin headed his first goal for the club against the team he played for last season.

Anthony Storey then put Rye ahead with a superb goal. After beating two players near the corner flag, Storey cut inside the full-back and whipped a curling shot into the far top corner.

Further goals on the counter-attack from Storey and Scott Ramsay, who netted his first of the season, sealed a terrific victory and the perfect response to successive defeats without scoring.

Sidley made it back-to-back wins with an eye-catching result against a Lancing side which finished runners-up in the league last season and beat much-fancied Peacehaven & Telscombe the previous weekend.

Recent signings Sam Willett and Kenny Pogue put Sidley two-up at half time. Although Lancing pulled one back through Darren Boswell, goals from Zack McEniry and Terry Payne put Sidley into round three.

Full reports on both matches will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Sussex County League Division One standings (played-points): 1 East Preston 7-21, 2 Ringmer 6-15, 3 RYE UNITED 7-14, 4 Peacehaven & Telscombe 6-13, 5 Hassocks 8-13, 6 Arundel 5-12, 7 Redhill 6-11, 8 Lancing 7-10, 9 Shoreham 7-10, 10 Pagham 4-9, 11 Lingfield 5-9, 12 SIDLEY UNITED 6-9, 13 Dorking Wanderers 7-8, 14 Horsham YMCA 6-7, 15 Selsey 6-7, 16 Crowborough Athletic 6-6, 17 AFC Uckfield 6-5, 18 East Grinstead Town 7-5, 19 Chichester City 8-5, 20 Hailsham Town 5-3, 21 St Francis Rangers 7-2, 22 Worthing United 6-2.