FA Cup agony for Sidley

Sidley United suffered FA Cup agony last night (Wednesday).

The Blues were edged out 1-0 by Greenwich Borough in a preliminary round replay, ending their quest to win two FA Cup matches in the same season for the first time ever.

Both teams created two clearcut chances at Hailsham Town FC’s Beaconsfield ground, but Greenwich took one of theirs and Sidley squandered both of theirs.

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The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Nathan Gee drove in from the left and played in Akim Hanson, who shot first time wide of Matt Dann in the Sidley goal.

Sidley really ought to have been 2-1 up at half time, though, which would have been a fair reflection of the opening 45 minutes on a mainly dry evening.

Jason Taylor was denied by the Greenwich goalkeeper and Chris Gould ballooned over from virtually on the goal-line, while Dann used his legs to save from Gee.

The second half was something of a stalemate until Hanson struck the decisive blow to hand Greenwich a home tie against Cray Wanderers in first round qualifying.

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Sidley (4-3-3): Dann; Brand, Cruikshank, Cooper, Rea (Bird 86); Rose (McEniry 77), Darby, Trickett; Taylor, Payne, Gould (Berry 73). Sub not used: Hesmer.

See tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer for a full report and reaction.

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