Sidley lose cup final dress rehearsal

A 78th minute Simon Colbran header secured the points as the visitors kept alive their faint hopes of coming up on the rails in the Sussex League title race.

The teams are due to lock horns again on Friday April 6 when they meet at Ringmer FC in the final of the John O'Hara League Cup, kick-off 11am.

Sidley should really have got something got of the game because both Scott McDonald and Peter Baker failed to make the most of glorious second half opportunities with only goalkeeper Robert Gordon to beat.

The home side also hit the post, or rather Crows defender Craig Bishop did, when he deflected a harmless looking cross against the frame of his own goal. Fortunately for him, the ball rebounded into the arms of Gordon.

With cup final places to be cemented, there was no chance of taking it easy. Crowborough, who unlike their opponents rested a couple of players, looked the better side on the ball but The Blues refused to concede the iniative during a very even contest.

The opening 40 minutes produced only the occasional effort on target before Crowborough looked certain to score when Colbran was presented with an open goal only to be dispossessed by Nick Whiteman's superbly-timed but just-about-legal tackle from behind.

The second period produced more in the way of goalmouth action, with the decisive moment seeing an unmarked Colbran get on the end of a Wayne Clark corner and head beyond the gloves of Simon Newstead.