Four-goal visitors end Sidley winning streak

Indeed the home side could feel pretty aggrieved at losing this six-goal thriller and but for these shortcomings they would probably have made it five wins on the bounce.

Joint manager Andy Laskey said: "It should have been our day but it wasn't. I thought we had more chances to score than them and it was a bit annoying that we didn't finish them off."

Sidley posed a greater threat in the air and Chris Copley and Kevin Rose had already gone close with headers before Lee Wood opened their account in the 24th minute with a close range finish to Jimmy Watson's low left wing free kick.

But this free-flowing, attractive spectacle of a game took a major twist in the few minutes that followed. United keeper Rob Wiley was caught in the face by a striker's boot and instead of halting play for a head injury the referee left the whistle alone. Chris Copley had the chance to clear but only found Phil Thompson who slammed home with Wiley attempting to regain his senses. Laskey added: "It wasn't a foul but if the keeper's been kicked in the head and he's down he should stop play. The ref admitted he made a mistake but we lost our concentration with what happened to Rob and the next five minutes we were all over the place. But apart from the defensive errors I was quite pleased with how we played."

During those funny five minutes Wood was robbed by Steve Banks on the Sidley right from where the ball was crossed in for Adam Simpson to fire home at the back post.

Visiting stopper Dave Tidey, part of last week's Sussex squad, made super saves from Mark Freeman and Wes Tate but Rose's header from Freeman's corner on the stroke of half time was simply too good.

Grinstead re-took the lead eight minutes into the second half when Adam Dart freed Dave Gellatly and, although Wiley got a touch to his effort, the robust midfielder bundled home the loose ball.

Freeman and Adam Day missed simple headers and Town, a tidy footballing side who looked better than their relatively lowly standing in the table, were then gifted a two-goal cushion. Wood headed a cross-field ball back to the head-bandaged Wiley who slipped as it came his way and they both had to watch in despair as it trickled into the unguarded net.

Sidley: Wiley, Maplesden, Freeman, Ball, Wood, Copley, Day, Watson, Rose, Tate, Finch (Lynch). Subs not used: Fletcher, Heritage.

SIDLEY UNITED 2

EAST GRINSTEAD TOWN 4