Sidley stunned by Easter cancellation

Scheduled hosts Rye & Iden United cancelled the Sussex Division One fixture less than three hours before the 11am kick-off time owing to a lack of players.

"To be honest I can't really believe it," said Sidley joint manager Andy Laskey. "I can't believe that a club with under-18s, reserves and a third team can't get 11 players to play in what most players would think is one of the top games of the season. I'm gobsmacked that they couldn't get a side and that they left it so late to call it off."

The Blues were awarded a walkover, while Rye & Iden face a hefty fine for their first such disgraceful indiscretion since entering the Sussex County League as Rye United back in 1952.

"It (the no-show) is a no-go for me," commented Rye & Iden treasurer Mick Walton, "I'm extremely disappointed with (manager) Will Toal and I'm even more disappointed for the people that were coming. We feel very let down and the committee will take some sort of action. I'm not sure what that action will be, but I don't think there's any choice that we've got to do something."

The latest piece of negative publicity comes less than a month after the club, which could have been expelled from the league for the unfulfillment, had its electricity supply cut-off for nine days over an unpaid bill.

Rye & Iden, who retained the Hastings & District FA Senior Cup at Gullivers only six days previously, are also guaranteed to finish in the bottom two of the league, but Walton stated "there's absolutely no way it's going to fold."

Toal was unavailable for comment, but Walton confirmed that Toal "has promised" to contest the penultimate match of their campaign at Chichester City United on Saturday April 22.

Sidley go to third-bottom Redhill at the weekend without the unavailable Lee Wood and possibly Peter Newstead (knee). Chris Steward, Owen Ball, Simon Corke and Paul Henty may all return, but Laskey is still waiting to hear from Dave Carey, who failed to turn up for the 2-2 draw at Worthing United on Saturday and wasn't in the squad for the Rye & Iden match.