Blues beaten by 10-man Town

They failed to truly capitalise on playing against 10 men and a midfielder playing in goal during the entire second half.

Asked if he felt his side did enough to warrant a point, assistant manager Andy Laskey said: "Yes and no, but perhaps the way they played with 10 men, a point would have been harsh on them. We lost the game in the first half where we gave away two goals, but when the guy got sent-off I thought we were back in it.

"It was a poor performance in many ways. There was plenty of effort, but I thought in the final third our use of the ball and decision making were very poor and it wasn't really until probably the final 15 minutes that we really took it to them.

"There wasn't enough guile or class to break them down and I don't think we had our first shot until 25 minutes into the second half. We should have been putting the goalkeeper under pressure from the moment the second half started."

In fact, Hailsham could have wrapped the game up early in the second period had it not been for a brilliant goal-saving challenge by Paul Henty and a smart tip over by goalkeeper Peter Newstead.

When Sidley finally did rouse themselves, makeshift Town custodian Paul Richardson made super stops from Chas Lister and Keith Miles, playing for the first time since August 21 following suspension.

United gave themselves a glimmer of hope in the 88th minute when Richardson touched Peter Baker's free kick onto a post and Miles teed up fellow substitute Dominic Clarke for a tap in.

They nearly stole a point in the eighth minute of stoppage time when a scuffed clearance looped fractionally over the bar off Hailsham's Stuart Skan, but it would have been a draw they didn't deserve.

Sidley had been behind ever since the second minute when a weak clearance by Callum Wooller fell to Stuart Lewis and he left Newstead transfixed with a stunning 25 yard volley.

United more than held their own on the balance of play during the opening 45 minutes, but the better chances fell to Hailsham.

Newstead produced a tremendous double save from Martin Richardson and Simon Stevens before diving to his left to hold a free kick by Paul Richardson.

Hailsham went two-up after 36 minutes when Wooller's square ball mid-way inside his own half failed to reach its intended target and Skan freed Peter Cooper, who cut inside Graham Morris and slotted wide of Newstead.

Sidley's lifeline came deep into first half stoppage time when Town goalkeeper Russell Tanner was given a straight red card for bringing down Joe McCarthy outside the penalty area following Baker's quickly taken free kick over the top.