Superb second half show from Blues

The Blues completed a 4-0 win at home to their fellow strugglers on Tuesday, thanks to post interval goals from Jordan Wood, Dave Carey, Steve Morris and Jimmy Watson.

Joint manager Andy Laskey praised his hard-working side as they rid themselves of the spectre of their 6-2 thrashing away at Hassocks just three days earlier.

He said: "It was a shocking performance on Saturday and they let themselves down. But they answered that with their commitment and work rate against Eastbourne, and they got what they deserved.

"I would have thought everyone who came and watched saw a thoroughly entertaining game of football. That'll lift the doom and gloom a little bit."

The commanding victory lifted the Blues to 15th, while East Preston tumbled back into the bottom three after a 2-2 draw away to Arundel.

But there was little forewarning of a Sidley goal spree in a largely uneventful first half.

Thirteenth-placed Eastbourne, who included former Blue Lewis Parsons, shaded the early play, and the hosts had goalkeeper Peter Newstead to thank for some good saves from former Sidley forward Scott McDonald, including a confident double stop on 18 minutes.

But a tactical switch towards the end of the first half transformed Sidley's fortunes. The pacey Wood swapped flanks with Dave Ward, and the wing-back gave his side the lead just seconds into the second half.

Wood's 25-yard screamer crashed in off the underside of the bar before some spectators had even polished off their half-time cup of tea.

And Sidley doubled their lead just seven minutes later, as a neat Morris through ball freed Carey to tuck his finish under the oncoming Mark Oldroyd.

At the other end, Sidley doggedly refused to give Eastbourne a sight of goal, aided by a string of brave blocks from Lee Wood on his first full game this season.

Carey's chances had been limited in a tight first half, but his determined runs in the second half frequently stretched Eastbourne's back-line. And it was his whipped cross from the left that picked out Morris for a superb first-time finish on 74 minutes, which Oldroyd could only palm into his net.

There was yet another chance for Sidley fans to celebrate in injury time, as Carey again duped Eastbourne's defence on the right to deliver for club captain Watson, who headed in off the post.

Stuart Weston made his first appearance of the season with 15 minutes remaining, and the win was achieved without unavailable 23-goal top-scorer Peter Baker.