Last gasp Sidley snatch vital point

The Blues looked to be heading for their second defeat of the Easter programme as this match lurched into the fourth minute of injury time at Gullivers with the hosts trailing to Michael Morgan's early strike.

A fourth successive defeat was just seconds away when Sidley were awarded a free kick some 35 yards out from the Redhill goal. It really was the last throw of the dice because home goalkeeper Greg Thurstans was itching to make his presence felt in the opposition box until he was told to get back by manager Andy Laskey.

Lee Wood swung the ball in and poor marking allowed the smallest and most tenacious player on the pitch, Shae Spreafico, to get up and flick the faintest of touches across goalkeeper Chris Roberts and into the far corner of the net.

Despite the equaliser Sidley remain deep in the relegation mire and their cause wasn't helped by results elsewhere as East Grinstead Town stunned second-placed Rye & Iden United 1-0, and Pagham and Hailsham Town picked up a point apiece.

Laskey said: "Credit to the players because they kept going and even the Redhill manager said we deserved the point. It was important to get something out of the game. It provides us with a platform to go on."

Sidley certainly did deserve to get something and with better finishing could have claimed all three points, although Redhill could also point to the fact that they were denied on several occasions by the agile reflexes of Thurstans.

The home side started well but were knocked backwards by Redhill's goal on 13 minutes. It was a dreadful goal to concede as Oliver West was allowed to skate along the byline and set up a simple finish for Morgan.

Graham Morris and Owen Ball both had half chances before Steve Morris should have done better with a close range header, but it was at a nice height for Roberts to parry. At the other end, Thurstans gathered smartly from Luke Jones and in first half stoppage time stood up to Dave Flemming as he bore down on goal.

Sidley had a lucky escape on the hour when Jason Finch appeared to block a cross into the home penalty box with his arm before Steve Morris was guilty of the miss of the match, stubbing wide with only Roberts to beat.

Kevin Rose almost poached the leveller, while Thurstans again did well to deny Jones and then Justin Jones.