Sidley hit 9 & Rye win thriller

Sidley thrashed AFC Uckfield 9-2 in Sussex County Football League Division One, while Rye came from behind to triumph 4-3 against Ringmer in round one of the Sussex Senior Cup.

Dominic Clarke and Kenny Pogue put Sidley two-up inside eight minutes before Pogue and Andy Hales made it four inside the half-hour.

Uckfield pulled one back early in the second half, but goals from Hales, Matt Darby, Jason Taylor and Milton Miltiadou made it 8-1. Second-bottom Uckfield grabbed a second before Taylor completed the rout.

Sidley’s first league win since September 11 moved them up to 16th and they are now only two points outside the top half.

A depleted Rye side initially went two-down away to Ringmer in an entertaining clash between two teams towards the top end of Sussex Division One.

Matt Maclean pulled one back with his 13th of the season and although Ringmer restored their two-goal cushion, a Chris Gould screamer - his first goal since returning to the club - made it 3-2 at half time.

Rye bossed the second half, but had to wait until the latter stages before Sam Adams popped up with the equaliser. Sean Kelly scored the winner in stoppage time to book a second round trip to Burgess Hill Town.

Sussex Division Two club Bexhill United gave a good account of themselves despite losing 2-1 away to in-form Division One outfit Horsham YMCA in the same competition, ending their proud unbeaten start to the season.

All the goals came during the first half with Danny Turner scoring his first senior goal for a below strength Bexhill line-up. Lewis Parsons was sent-off for Bexhill after the break.

See Friday’s Observers for full reports.