Blues snatch defeat from jaws of victory

The Blues conceded two late goals to turn a 3-2 lead into a 4-3 loss in an entertaining Sussex County Football League Division One fixture at home to Lingfield.

Sidley fell behind to a goalkeeping mistake, but David Pugh, who enjoyed an impressive debut after signing for the club last week, brought them level at half time.

Matt Darby put Sidley ahead early in the second period and although Lingfield squared things up, the Blues went back in front through Jason Taylor in the 82nd minute.

It wasn’t to be Sidley’s night, though, because Lingfield levelled in the 86th minute and then grabbed a stoppage time winner at a freezing Gullivers.

After two previous postponements, it was a good effort just to get the game played because eight of the other nine fixtures involving Sussex County League clubs last night were called-off due to frozen pitches.

Sidley are 15th in the table, while Lingfield are up to sixth. See Friday’s Bexhill Observer for a full report and reaction.

Sidley: McEniry, Rea, Cooper, Cruikshank, Willett, Agutter, A. Darby, M. Darby, Pugh, Martin, Hales.