Sidley crash to new-look Redhill

The hosts showed little resemblance to the one that was beaten 7-2 by Eastbourne United Association not so long ago.

The acquisition of a new manager and virtually a whole new side's worth of former Ryman League players changed this from a fixture Sidley would have been hopeful of winning into one where they would have been content to leave with anything.

"They are definitely in a false position," said Sidley joint manager Andy Laskey. "I think they looked a good side actually but in some ways we let ourselves down because we didn't perform very well."

But there were "two incidents which changed the game". The first of these, which took place when the game was still goalless, concluded with the home goalkeeper still on the field having handled outside the area when Laskey felt "he should have gone".

The first incident may have been beyond their control but the second certainly wasn't. Goalkeeper Greg Thurstans, making just his second appearance, allowed a routine ball into the area to wriggle through his grasp and cross the line after which "our heads went down a little bit".

Sidley were poor in the second period and the game was effectively put beyond them by a pair of almost identical goals in quick succession mid-way through the half. On both occasions they were caught out by deliveries from the left which got in behind the centre-backs, allowing firstly Bigger and then Jenns to supply the finishing touch.

Blues did get a goal back, however, when Keith Miles, "probably the only player to come out having played anywhere near their full potential", netted with a hooked finish. Bracken put the game beyond doubt on the break in the final minute.