Honours even in Charity Shield match

Sidley and Bexhill shared the honours following a 1-1 draw at Gullivers on Wednesday night, but feel the inclusion of their neighbours, who are waiting to discover the outcome of their application to join the Sussex County League having won the East Sussex League, would freshen up the event.

Sidley manager Andy Laskey said: "I don't see why there's not a place for the match, but at the end of the season it can be determined by certain factors (namely league run-ins). Perhaps we could include Little Common in it and have a little round-robin when there's blank midweeks. I think it would be good to get Little Common involved."

Bexhill boss Bill Trivett added: "I think it might be a progression to invite Little Common and perhaps one other club to make it a four team tournament. But it needs to be done when all the teams have got all their games out the way. I think we would rather play it at the start of the season, but the problem we've got is (their pitch being used for) cricket."

Little Common manager Ken Cherry commented: "I don't see why not if we were invited into it."

Little Common's involvement would mean the fixture could be played before the start of the season, a time of year Cherry distinctly favours.

"I would have thought it would be better pre-season," he continued. "I'm surprised Sidley even played it on Wednesday because their priority has got to be staying in Division One and Bexhill wouldn't have wanted to play it if their fixtures hadn't finished. It would be a good chance to have a look at players in pre-season."

The time of year really took the gloss off Wednesday's evenly-fought contest because Sidley's starting line-up contained just three players who began the league match against East Preston the previous Saturday.

Laskey continued: "I'm sure Bexhill would have liked to have played our strongest side as a test for them, but it wasn't worth risking the first team squad with the games we've got coming up."

Trivett added: "It would have been nice to have play a full-strength Sidley side, but I understand their position."

An emphatic Darren Witham penalty gave Bexhill the lead five minutes from the break, but a Steve Morris lob in the 69th minute ensured honours finished even. A total of 436 was raised for charity.