Sidley stumble out of Vase

It was always going to be a tall order for the Blues to reach the first round proper of the national competition when faced with such a long journey in midweek.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "They deserved to win but I don't know if they deserved to win 3-1. You couldn't have any arguments that they were the better side really."

Sidley made a bright start to this second qualifying round replay with Mark Funnell twice going close.

United were caught out on 25 minutes by a smart move which was rounded off by a neat shot on the turn from the edge of the box and were all over the place during the following few minutes.

Danny Poole denied a home striker from a one-on-one confrontation and they just about managed to remain only one down at the break.

Injuries that brought Adam Day, Dave Carey and Mat Ball's evenings to a premature conclusion rocked the boat further and when a 25-yard rocket picked out Poole's top corner early in the second half, the peak of the mountain was looking increasingly distant.

Ramsgate added a third - almost a carbon copy of the first - not long afterwards but Sidley, as ever, kept going and Peter Heritage slotted a penalty awarded for a foul on Gerard Moyse.

The teams had drawn 2-2 the previous Saturday with Shae Spreafico and Dave Carey netting for Sidley.

Sidley visit East Grinstead Town in the first round of the Sussex Senior Cup on Saturday September 27 before turning to league action at Southwick the following Tuesday.