Sidley win again & Rye are held

Sidley United took another step towards safety with a third successive victory yesterday (Saturday).
Kenny Pogue opened the scoring for Sidley United against AFC UckfieldKenny Pogue opened the scoring for Sidley United against AFC Uckfield
Kenny Pogue opened the scoring for Sidley United against AFC Uckfield

The 3-0 win at home to second-bottom AFC Uckfield has put the Blues nine points above the three relegation places in Sussex County Football League Division One with 10 games remaining.

Sidley opened the scoring midway through the first half when Kenny Pogue latched onto a great ball over the top by Sam Willett and unleashed a cracking strike over the goalkeeper into the roof of the net.

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The Blues doubled their lead with a comical own goal shortly before the break. Terry Payne sent over a harmless looking cross, but Matt O’Brien headed into his own net with no Sidley player anywhere near him.

Uckfield raised the tempo at the start of the second period, albeit without really troubling Greg Nessling in the home goal, before Sidley sealed the points with a third goal from Ricky Martin, who fired a left-foot shot into the top corner from just inside the box.

In the same division, Rye United stretched their unbeaten run under new joint bosses Marc Gall and Anthony Storey to six matches with a 2-2 draw away to St Francis Rangers, although they felt that one point ought to have been three.

Ninth-placed Saints took a first half lead against the run of play, but Rye dominated the second period and levelled when Olly Locker poked the ball home for his fourth goal in as many games after Liam Upton’s shot had gone under the goalkeeper.

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Seventh-placed Rye then went ahead through a great header by Dominic Clarke after good work from Upton. They couldn’t hold on, though, because Saints grabbed a late equaliser with a powerful header from a corner by Josh Perry for his second of the afternoon. Saints also had seven players booked in a feisty contest.