Sidley still two points from safety

Tommy Pattenden's late strike brought to an end an impressive run of three successive wins and punctured a miserly defence that had not conceded a goal in 404 minutes of helter skelter end-of-season league action.

Sidley manager Andy Laskey said: "I suppose it's a sign of how far we have progressed over the last few weeks because everyone was disappointed at the end. I don't think we probably did enough to win but I don't think we deserved to lose."

Sidley looked as though they had secured a point until 10 minutes from time when a long clearance by Whitehawk goalkeeper Wayne Collins resulted in a straight race between Owen Ball and Pattenden. A slight stumble by the Sidley defender allowed the Whitehawk forward to get his nose in front and he used his strength to get in a shot which flashed across Greg Thurstans and into the far corner of the net.

Although Whitehawk were probably the slightly better side on the night, the goal was cruel on Sidley who held their own for long spells against a side chasing the runners-up spot.

The Blues, who were forced to make three changes to the team that finished the match against Hailsham Town on Saturday after Lee Wood, Stuart Weston and Liam Barham dropped out through injury, again worked their socks off and could have had a couple of goals in an opening onslaught which saw Callum Wooller test Collins at his near post and Graham Morris get under a free header.

Paul Stevenson emulated Morris at the other end as Whitehawk began to dominate territorially.

Early in the second half, Morris, so solid at the heart in the Sidley defence alongside the assured Kevin Rose (who until Wood's withdrawal was going to play up front) and Ball, had another chance to break the deadlock but his downward header was parried by Collins.

Whitehawk were awarded a penalty on 52 minutes for a foul on Pattenden. The same player took the spot-kick but scuffed his effort wide.

Pattenden did redeem himself by grabbing what proved to be the winner, but Rose almost levelled with a sliding effort that was cleared from near the Whitehawk goalline.

Sidley take on Arundel at Gullivers on Saturday April 23, kick-off 3pm.