Rose returns to haunt Sidley

Rose, who joined Rye from Sidley only last month having been out since early October with an ankle injury, gcame off the bench to head Sam Cole’s cross beyond Gavin Bourne two minutes into added time.

The goal completed a rousing Rye comeback after Liam Upton’s deflected shot had brought them back into the Sussex County Football League Division One derby 12 minutes from time.

Sidley had earlier stormed into a two-goal lead thanks to Liam Miles’ expertly placed lob from a long ball by Chris Rea just before the half-hour mark.

They doubled their money on 73 minutes courtesy of Matt Dadswell’s close range finish after a thumping shot from Lee Jules had fallen invitingly into the path of the midfielder.

The local rivals will do it all again at The Salts next Monday in the reverse fixture. A full report will appear in Friday’s Bexhill and Rye Observers.