Sidley end Rustington’s unbeaten run

RUSTINGTON Football Club’s eight-game unbeaten run came to an end on Tuesday evening when they lost 5-0 at division-higher Sidley in the Sussex RUR Cup third round.
By The Newsroom
Published 25th Nov 2010, 15:30 BST

Because of the long trip to the East Sussex side, Blues manager Brett Torode had three players who could not make the game but he refused to use that as an excuse and said: “We still had a good enough side to go there and get something.

“We missed our chances and they took theirs, which was the difference. When you play teams from a higher division, they will punish your mistakes and they did that.

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“Their first three goals all came from our own mistakes but their fifth goal was a fantastic volley from a corner.”

Blues fell behind on three minutes but, at 2-0, had two glorious chances to get back in the game but Brett Neal headed wide and Simon Clayton was denied by the keeper, before Sidley quickly added a third and then scored twice more in the second half.

On Saturday, Rustington earned a John O’Hara Cup replay after a 1-1 draw after extra-time at Seaford in the last 16.

After a scoreless 90 minutes, with little incident, Simon Stevens fired in to give Seaford the lead in the opening exchanges of extra-time.

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Blues’ Andy Boxall then headed wide, and Rustington had a penalty appeal waved away when the same player went down.

Adam Bibb curled home Rustington’s equaliser in the 104th minute, and they had to settle for a draw after Matt Huckett and James Bennett saw late opportunities go begging.

Torode said: “We played well and I was pleased.
“A draw was probably about right and we did well against a good side.

“It’s nice to have a cup run as they keep the season going, particularly when you’re in mid-table.

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They were strongly tipped for promotion and, although it’s not worked out that way, it was a tough game and we perhaps could have nicked it.”

RUSTINGTON v Sidley: McCarthy; Bennett, Neal, Bibb, Butcher, Green; Matthews, Clayton, Hudson; Huckett, Kirkham. Subs: Darwin (Butcher 60), Adams (Kirkham 65), Withers (Clayton 75).

v Seaford: McCarthy; Boxall, Neal, Bibb, Bennett; Sayers, Jones, Huckett, Clayton; Adams, Kirkham. Subs: Green (Kirkham 65), Matthews (Clayton 90), Butcher (Adams 97), Withers.

Related topics:RustingtonSidleyEast SussexBlues