Leaders teach Sidley a lesson

SIDLEY United rounded off their home programme with a 2-0 defeat at home to Sussex League leaders Chichester City United.

This contest on Saturday clearly revealed just why Chichester are on the verge of the title and Sidley are struggling in the lower half.

Little came the visitors' way in front of goal but they made no mistake when opportunities did arise whereas Blues' goal-shy attack-minded players endured another off-target afternoon as they had against Ringmer five days earlier.

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"That's the difference," assessed joint manager Andy Laskey. "We were fairly happy with the performance: all there was between the sides was that they put a couple of chances away and we didn't. In some ways we know we're going along the right lines but that game really summed up our season."

Sidley weren't helped by the fact that they yielded a goal in only the 15th minute. The ball was played in behind right wing-back Graham Morris and then whipped into the centre where Lewis Fennemore was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

Falling behind early on against league leaders can destroy some teams but the goal seemed to galvanise rather than destroy Sidley and they proceeded to enjoy a dominant 15 minute spell. But Kevin Rose and Wes Tate failed to work the goalkeeper when presented with good sights of goal as there was again little substance to their style.

The same two players went close during the opening phases of the second period which Sidley again had the better of. But almost predictably, Chichester and Fennemore added a 60th minute second in almost identical fashion to the opener.

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Dave Ward then placed his finish to a carbon copy chance the wrong side of the upright as once again it wasn't to be Sidley's day. The direct dribbling skills of livewire Shae Spreafico caused some consternation in the visiting ranks upon his introduction and he forced a superb save out of the away number one but Rose was unable to pose a similar test with a pair of late efforts.

Sidley visit Arundel on Saturday April 24 before taking on Hastings United in the Hastings Senior Cup Final at the Pilot Field on Wednesday.