Sidley bounce back to claim draw

Second half goals from Ben White and substitute Kevin Rose ensured the Blues got something from an entertaining Sussex Division One match that could have gone either way.

In fact, but for a stunning acrobatic save from Greg Thurstans Town would have been celebrating more than a draw. Only five minutes remained when Ben Brockbank sent a looping header seemingly beyond the reach of the Sidley goalkeeper but somehow Thurstans managed to arch backwards to get a decent palm to the ball. Kris Trevor could still have knocked in the loose ball but Thurstans deserved a slice of fortune as the EG man volleyed into the side netting.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "Before the game I was hoping for three points but I was pleased with the way we twice came back from a goal behind. We weren't quite as fluid as we have been in our previous three games but the conditions didn't help."

Before kick-off the teams observed a minute's silence in memory of Sidley players James Duffell and Liam Cox who died in a car crash a year ago to the day. Both sets of parents attended the match.

The Blues were intent on remembering their former team-mates by chalking up a fourth successive win and laid siege to the EG goal in the opening exchanges only to fall behind on five minutes. The Sidley central defenders were caught napping when James Holland's dink into the box saw Chris Arrow get in a free header which completely flat-footed Thurstans.

The home side went on to enjoy plenty of the ball in the first half but struggled to create anything, although hard-working lone striker Keith Miles might have done better from Jason Finch's long cross to the back post.

EG upped their attacking game just before the interval with Trevor and Arrow both being denied by Thurstans.

Sidley looked a much more dangerous animal in the second half and White was a whisker away from sliding home an equaliser from Jordan Wood's low centre.

Then on 55 minutes Steve Morris forced EG goalkeeper David Tidey into a very good save and the ball eventually found its way to Chas Lister whose cross was met by a bullet header from the incoming White.

EG continued to threaten on the break and Thurstans pulled off a fine tip-over to keep out a Holland cross which had taken a vicious deflection off a defender.

But Thurstans could do nothing to prevent Brockbank from restoring the lead for EG on 79 minutes after substitute David Geliatly had been allowed to run with the ball inside the Sidley penalty area.

Sidley hit back for a second time four minutes later through Rose whose run across the top of the box and left foot shot towards the bottom corner gave Tidey no chance.

Both teams went for the win in the closing minutes but a draw was probably a fair result.