Morris grabs point for Sidley

Goalkeeper Peter Newstead (hamstring), Owen Ball (hamstring) and Keith Miles (achilles) all had to be replaced inside the opening 40 minutes at Gullivers on Saturday.

The changes meant the Blues never really found their best form and in the end they were grateful to Steve Morris for grabbing a draw with an equaliser two minutes from time. The forward claimed his ninth goal of the season with a perfectly placed header after being picked out by Stuart Weston's dink into a crowded Selsey box.

The West Sussex outfit looked like snatching victory just four minutes earlier when Daren Pearce stabbed home from close range after Tom Ridley's deflected cross from the byline had deceived Jon Saunders and his defenders.

Sidley were once again without injured main striker Peter Baker and they suffered another blow when Newstead's troublesome hamstring flared up after only 10 minutes which meant he had to be replaced by Saunders.

Soon after, Owen Ball's afternoon was also cut short and on 37 minutes forward Miles completed an unwanted hat-trick when he was forced off.

The substitutions were the major talking point of a competitive opening period of few chances, the best being a John Price header which was cleared off the line by Weston.

Scott McDonald should have provided Sidley with the perfect start to the second half following good build-up play between Jimmy Watson and Morris, but opting for power over placement, his effort flashed well over the angle.

At the other end, Saunders saved well from Greg Robinson before Price went close with another header at a set piece.