Sidley delight at away win

From rabbits in headlights at Gullivers just three days previously, to dogs released from their leads in totally outplaying their mid-table hosts.

This was United's seventh victory on their travels this season - three more than any other side in the bottom half of the Sussex One table - and it just goes to show what could have been achieved had they done themselves justice on their own turf.

On this evidence Blues looked like a top six side, playing football as controlled as you're likely to witness at this level. Unflustered by the hard, bumpy surface that must rank among the worst in the division, Sidley refused to surrender their passing instincts when many sides would understandably have lumped it forward and played their football in the opposition's half.

And, unusually, there was an end product to match the intricate approach work, particularly as the game became stretched in the final 20 minutes which was when they pounced.

Wes Tate sprung a less than convincing offside trap 17 minutes from time and slotted Craig Ottley's through-ball beyond Russell Tanner.

Ottley was again instrumental in the creation of the second strike, swerving wide of the cumbersome Damien Smith who unceremoniously upended him just inside the box. Ben White, who along with Lee Wood and Chris Copley formed the type of stingy back three Blues fans have become accustomed to in recent years, converted the penalty with just five minutes remaining.

But it wouldn't have been Sidley if they hadn't made hard work of it. Within two minutes Graham Morris was penalised for handball in his own area but, for once, it was their night and Rob Wiley leapt to his right to repel Scott French's spot kick.

Morris then nodded Smith's powerful header off the line as a generally off-colour Hailsham belatedly demonstrated their true credentials.

But no-one could begrudge Sidley their stroke of fortune at the end of a match they thoroughly deserved to win. Inspired by the outstanding Dave Ward, they were the better side during a first half in which Wiley's shot-stopping prowess wasn't tested. United were immensely unfortunate not to go ahead four minutes from the break when Kevin Rose's bullet downward header seemed a certain goal but the solid turf propelled the ball onto the underside of the crossbar.

The previous Saturday Sidley were hammered 5-0 at home to title hopefuls East Preston.