10-man Sidley stopped in their tracks

The Blues were 2-0 down and a man down after just 20 minutes against Wick, but clawed their way back to level terms before finally succumbing to a winner 10 minutes from time to lose 3-2.

United dropped below Shoreham, who won 4-1 at Redhill, but they are only two points adrift of Worthing United with four games in hand.

"I thought the performance was excellent," said then assistant manager Andy Laskey, who was promoted to joint manager alongside Keith Miles on Monday following Barham's resignation in the dressing room after the game, "especially second half. Pete (goalkeeper Peter Newstead) probably had one shot to save in the second half apart from the goal they scored, but we shot ourselves in the foot really because we started off terribly."

That terrible start began when Darren Annis was on hand to convert Danny Curd's pass after Sidley had been cut to ribbons along their left hand side.

Their plight significantly worsened when Owen Ball, captaining the side for the day in the absence of holidaying regular skipper Jimmy Watson, was shown a straight red card by referee Tim Slater for foul and abusive language after conceding an 11th minute free kick.

Ninth-placed Wick, who completed the league double over Sidley in addition to knocking them out of the SCFA RUR Charity Cup on penalties, extended their advantage in the 20th minute when Annis turned provider for Curd to apply the finishing touch to a flowing move.

But Sidley, who have now lost nine of their last 11 league games, pulled one back when Peter Baker converted a 43rd minute penalty awarded for handball against Mark Dixon.

The same player, who has netted 21 times this season, hauled Sidley level with a spectacular 73rd minute free kick which sailed over the wall and into the top corner.

United had a glorious chance to grab an unlikely lead when Dave Ward missed an open goal and they were to rue that miss when Tom Manton guided home an 81st minute winner.