Sidley off to winning start

The Blues thoroughly deserved their success at Crabtree Park and with better finishing - particularly during the closing quarter of an hour - would have enjoyed a far more comfortable margin of victory.

"The players earned the result," said joint manager Andy Laskey. "I don't think it's a fluke."

Wick had finished last season a point worse off than Sidley, but the influx of Littlehampton Town management and playing staff during the summer meant they kicked-off as among the favourites for Sussex League glory.

Sidley were in no way daunted by this reputation and the rare presence of the talented Shae Spreafico and fine debuts from Josh Brown, until he went off injured, and, in particular, the excellent Darren Witham meant Wick were never able to relax.

Both sides went close to grabbing an early lead but Brown was in the right place to clear from Phil Turner and Peter Baker wasted a glorious chance by heading over from eight yards.

Wick took the lead on 33 minutes when a precise pass from Tom Manton picked out the run of Turner who slotted beyond Peter Newstead.

Sidley were back on level terms just four minutes later. A corner from the right ran free to central defender Lee Wood whose prod goalwards had sufficient power to trundle over the line.

The second half began with a bang as Newstead pulled off a superb fingertip save to touch a Manton header onto the top of the crossbar and almost immediately Sidley went up the other end to claim what proved to be the winner.

Slick play in the inside right channel was rounded off by Spreafico whose driven finish gave goalkeeper Wes Hallet no chance.

Callum Wooller, Steve Morris, Keith Miles and Spreafico all went close as Sidley threatened to increase their lead against a Wick side that had run out of ideas long before the final whistle.