United hit for six in cup

SIDLEY United's difficult start to the season continued on Tuesday night with a 6-1 hammering at Whitehawk.

The Blues gifted their opponents two goals within the first six minutes to virtually end their interest in this RUR Charity Cup first round tie.

"We're not helping ourselves," said joint manager Andy Laskey. "Everything we spoke about in the changing rooms just went out the window. We were 3-0 down in the 15th minute and the game's over."

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The mother of all nightmare starts began when Owen Ball impeded his man and although "he said it was outside the area, it was a needless foul anyhow". Rugged striker Ashley Carr, who was playing Southern League football for Burgess Hill Town last season, made no mistake from the spot and added the third when he rolled Lee Wood.

In between, Blues' goalkeeper Greg Thurstans raced from his line and struck only the nippy Tuesday night air instead of the ball, affording Tommy Pattenden a simple tap in and "the confidence just drained out of them". Centre-back Andy Beech notched another as a shellshocked United side found themselves four goals down at half time.

Sidley "were a lot better" in the second half but by that stage this SCFA RUR Charity Cup first round tie had been well and truly put to bed.

Keith Miles pulled one back from the penalty spot and "we had them under a bit of pressure". Reality quickly dawned upon Sidley, though, and the fifth goal - "an absolutely blatant offside but the linesman was talking to their bench" - arrived shortly afterwards before Pattenden completed the rout with his second and the Hawks' sixth six minutes from time.

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"Even with the side we had we should have been good enough to go there and give a better account of ourselves than we did," Laskey continued.

Sidley entertain Southwick on Saturday September 18 before welcoming Eastbourne United Association the following Tuesday.

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