Sidley hit for nine by Peacehaven

The Blues conceded five goals in the first half and four more in the second period of a one-sided Sussex County Football League Division One fixture.

Peacehaven are widely expected to be among the leading contenders this season and kicked-off their programme with a 4-1 win over East Grinstead on Saturday so Sidley knew it was always going to be a tough game.

Sidley themselves triumphed 3-1 away to Worthing United at the weekend, but there was to be no repeat of that as Ryan Bradley and Ashley Rees put Peacehaven two-up in the first half-hour.

Joe Dyer and Rees struck in quick succession before Dryer notched again. An Adam Kneller cracker made it 6-0 with well over half-an-hour still to play.

Carl Dunk added number seven from the penalty spot and an Ashley Jones header made it 8-0. Chris Gould nabbed a consolation for Sidley before Jones rounded-off the scoring near the end.

It was by far the heaviest defeat of John Lambert’s three-year reign as Sidley manager and the club’s worst result since the 10-0 thrashing away to Selsey in the 2007/08 season.

A full report will appear in tomorrow’s Bexhill Observer.