Result Mon 9th April

[markb]

Bilingshurst 4 - 2 Sidlesham.

Hurst came out on top of this six goal thriller as they overcame the leaders in front of a big crowd at Jubilee Fields. Late changes required for Hurst as Paul Elliott declared himself unfit to start during the warm-up so in came Chris Osborne for his first start of the season. Hurst took the lead when Darren Annis headed home from a Jamie Groves cross. Sidlesham levelled when their mobile right winger got on the end of a cross from their left and guided his header over Tom Betts in the Hurst goal. The visitors took the lead early in the second half when a defensive mix up led to the ball not being cleared any distance and the return ball found the attacker on the edge of the box who curled a lovely first time shot into the corner of the net. Hurst responded well and a series of corners by Groves from the Hurst right were testing the Sids defence and keeper but it was a corner from Ash Lewis that led to the equaliser. His driven corner was met by Nick Tilley who headed home and although from the half way line it looked like hand ball, the players confirmed it was definitely his head that made the connection. They went in front when Darren Annis played a delightful ball through that released Marcus Strevens and he applied the chip finish over the keeper. The fourth goal to seal the win was a neat near post header by Chris Osborne who deserved his goal after his whole hearted display.
Good team performance after our slip up against Wittering and we must carry it on against Upper Beeding on Wednesday night.

[The longest name]

SIDS had the better of the first half and billingshurst the second half with billingshurst capatilising on poor marking at set pieces. Very scrappy game with the poor weather and small pitch. Nice club and nice people at the club. SIDS can play much better discipline over the season has not helped us so far. Hopefully billingshurst will slip up to give us a glimmer of hope well done billingshurst.

[Ledley King]

Not sure about the handball but we did see the Billinghurst bench laugh and say how did that goal get given. Think majority of the people at the ground saw it apart from the referee.
Fair play to Billingshurst for scrapping out the result though..

Would have to agree with Longest Name on Sidlesham disciplinery record. If your going to win the league you dont want to have key players missing for months at a time.

The league is far from over, it may be out of are hands but Billinghurst have a tough run in. If they do win them all them fair play they deserve to win it.

It aint over until the fat lady sings! And she aint singing at Sidlesham!! not just yet.

[markb]

Ledley. Interesting comment about our 2nd goal as I thought it was definitely hand ball as that is what it looked like from where we were but the goalscorer and the others around the incident tell me he definitely headed it home. Players will generally tell you if they were "lucky to get away with it" but it looks as if the official got it right. I also asked the spectators who were that end of the ground and they confirmed it was his head and not his hand. Not that it makes any difference now but I did agree at the time that it looked like he fully batted it in with his hand. Seeing things from different angles, opinions, controversy - thats why we are all involved in football I reckon? We look forward to coming to your place later in the month. It's a long time since we've played down there, the days of Mr Laidlaw if my memory serves me right? You were promoted I think and we played you last game of the season. Thats as good as my memory gets.