Sidley suffer another defeat

The diminutive yet richly talented youngster looked his usual livewire self on his first appearance since September after returning from university for Christmas but a lack of protection from the referee didn't help his cause to rescue a badly-needed point.

As with many of the division's other festive fixtures, one goal was enough to settle it but Sidley left the notoriously sloping Caburn pitch feeling decidedly miffed at losing to their old adversaries.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "Their players said a draw would have been a perfectly fair result. But our passing over 10 yards is disappointing. We're giving the ball away unnecessarily and we're putting ourselves under pressure.

"Defensively I thought we were pretty good but it's just going forwards - we panic in the final third and waste our possession. But our players swear blind we should have had two penalties."

The pair of contestable incidents Laskey referred to both occurred in the second half and could have swung the game full circle. First Lee Wood appeared to be pulled down in the six yard box and then Dave Carey was shoved off the ball but, in keeping with Sidley's present fortune, both appeals fell on deaf ears.

Sidley lost the game to a seventh minute strike from former Lewes player Paul Stokes who fired low on the turn from the edge of the box as Wood got too close.

Sidley visit Rye & Iden United on Saturday January 3 before making the trip to Hailsham Town on Tuesday.