Two moments of class settle tense match

IN SUCH a close division as Sussex Division One, many matches are likely to hinge upon who provides that bit of magic in the final third.

And it was just that ingredient which gave Sidley United three welcome points from a tight encounter on Saturday afternoon.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "You would settle for a 2-0 win at home any day whoever you're playing. Our choice sometimes in the final third was poor and maybe we gave the ball away too cheaply, but I thought at times we played some superb football."

Chichester had more shots and corners than Sidley, but it was The Blues who produced the game's two outstanding moments to net their seventh victory in eight league and cup outings.

Peter Baker opened the scoring six minutes into the second period with a quality free kick which went into the far top corner via the fingertips of away goalkeeper Anthony Ender.

Nine minutes later Jimmy Watson burst through the middle at the end of a flowing move and his shot ended up in the roof of the net, again after a slight touch from Ender.

The visitors will probably also feel that they didn't get the rub of the green with some tricky refereeing decisions.

Paul Jones looked aggrieved at being penalised for a challenge on Baker which resulted in the first Sidley goal and Chichester had several strong appeals for free kicks and penalties turned down at the other end.

Even at 2-0 down, they certainly weren't out of it because Scott Murfin had a low strike well saved by returning goalkeeper Peter Newstead and Lee Paul couldn't quite stretch far enough to direct a header on target from Murfin's cross.

Late on, Newstead did well to hold another Murfin strike, but at the opposite end, Watson saw a header hacked off the goal-line by Murfin.

In the first half, Murfin had an effort disallowed for offside and Jones placed a free header wide of the mark.

But the best chance of the opening 45 minutes came the way of the hosts when Baker skewed wide amid shouts for a spot kick.

Sidley: Newstead, Temple, Ball, Whiteman, Witham, Willard, Watson (Johnson), Miles, J. Wood (Brown), Baker, S. Morris (Ward). Subs not used: L. Wood, Saunders.