Re-shuffle pays off for United

A BETTER balanced Sidley United side deservedly recorded their first league win for a month at Southwick on Wednesday night.

A relatively late winner from the revitalised Kevin Rose was due reward for a performance that combined solidity with creativity.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "It was a good result. We were easily worth a 1-0 win but the main thing was to keep a clean sheet and they had about one half shot in the whole game. We got hold of the midfield very early and bossed it from there and we looked a little bit more secure at the back."

Sidley shuffled the pack in the light of some disappointing recent results, as opposed to performances, and the decision to switch Owen Ball to sweeper and blood Mark Lynch, who hasn't played a first team game for two or three years, in the midfield proved a masterstroke. Ball's pace and ability to read the game mopped most things up at the back while Lynch's ball winning talents gave a greater attacking licence to Mark Funnell and Jimmy Watson in the centre of the park.

Again United came out of the blocks quickly. Watson fired fractionally too high early on, Rose shot narrowly wide, Lee Roberts was the victim of an untimely bobble which caused him to slice wide and Funnell had a crack from the edge of the box.

The second half continued in much the same vein with United still pulling the strings and posing all the questions. The home keeper pulled off a decent save to repel Funnell's half volley from the edge of the box and then produced an even greater piece of athleticism to pluck out a Mark Freeman shot that appeared destined for the top corner. Roberts probably should have done better than screwing the ball wide but as Sidley kept knocking on the door eventually it opened.

Freeman drilled over an inviting corner and Rose sprung highest to plant a trademark header into the home net.

Laskey continued: "Southwick were a good side but they didn't have a shot second half. If anything I thought we would get the second near the end. For effort and the ability to keep going that was on a par with the best we've played this season without a doubt."

Sidley: Duffell, O. Ball, Thompson (Fletcher), Lynch, Maplesden, Copley, Watson, Funnell, Rose, Roberts (Moyse), Freeman. Sub not used: M. Ball.