Wins for Rye and Sidley

Sidley pulled off a notable 2-1 win away to Chichester City in Division One of the Sussex County Football League, while Rye overcame Pagham 3-2 in a John O’Hara League Cup third round replay.

John Lambert’s Sidley side went behind in the opening five minutes, but despite being well below their best during the first half, levelled shortly before the break through a Danny Spice header.

The Blues upped their game and totally dominated the second half, yet were denied by the heroics of the home goalkeeper until Liam Miles crashed a shot in off the crossbar with a couple of minutes remaining.

Although somewhat off colour, Rye eventually saw off a Pagham side which had a player sent-off shortly before half time thanks to a Danny Ellis cracker shortly before the end.

Rye led twice during the first half of a tie played at Bexhill United’s Polegrove ground thanks to goals from defenders Paul Tuppenney and Shaun Loft only to be pegged back on both occasions.

The Quarterboys, who have remarkably lost only one of their 14 cup ties so far this season, will entertain Mile Oak in the quarter-finals.

In Division Two, Westfield’s match at home to Mile Oak was postponed, while Bexhill United and Little Common were fixtureless.

Full reports and reaction on the Rye and Sidley games will appear in Friday’s Observers.