Off Day for Sidley

United, by East Grinstead manager Bobby Smith's own admission, were the better team in the opening quarter until Day was given his marching orders for supposed foul and abusive language to a linesman who failed to award what he felt was a clear goal to Kevin Rose.

Smith admitted the sending-off was "harsh" and Sidley joint manager Andy Laskey was also swift to come down on the side of his player. He said: "It was a definite goal which their players said and you could tell by their reaction. Adam did say he muttered something to him but nobody heard anything and they could have perhaps been a little bit lenient in that case. It changed the whole game."

Prior to these shenanigans Rose, returning to the starting line-up, should have done better than volleying over from eight yards and Blues, as they did when the teams locked horns at Gullivers earlier in the season, menaced from set-pieces. Dave Ward was outstanding as Blues dominated midfield, the wing-backs were supporting well and Wes Tate looked sharp up front.

They continued in a similar vein in spite of their numerical disadvantage but it seems they're just not meant to beat East Grinstead this season.

United fell behind when they failed to clear their lines and Adam Dart pounced after 28 minutes but Sidley retaliated with Liam Barham striking the underside of the crossbar and Matt Dadswell forcing a tremendous tip over out of the backpeddling Dave Tidey.

Kris Trevor gave the Wasps breathing space with a 52nd minute second following an incisive raid along Sidley's right-hand side but the never-say-die visitors continued to engineer openings. Barham was this time denied by the post and then Tidey who also rebuffed a Karl Tarrant header.

Tidey pulled off further splendid stops from Barham and Dadswell towards the end which were cruel on an out of luck Sidley.

Sidley are back at Gullivers on Saturday February 28 for the visit of Arundel, before playing host to Whitehawk the following Tuesday.