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Monday 20 August 2018

History Repeats Itself - Sildlesham vs. Billingshurst

Match action in front of the stand at The Rec
I really enjoy my Sussex football but I'm now getting to the point where new grounds are a bit thin on er, the ground. One of those few remaining was The Recreation Ground home of Sidlesham. Today they were hosting Billingshurst in Division One of The Sussex County League. I saw Billingshurst play Lordswood in The FA Vase so they were hoping they would do better than the narrow two one defeat they suffered that day. The closest I'd come to seeing Sidlesham play was travelling past the entrance to the ground on the bus en route to seeing Selsey play.

Another view of the stand at kick off


Billingshurst have a couple of early half chances and it is no surprise when they take the lead. After a Sidlesham move breaks down, the visitors pile forward and although the defender gets a good foot in, it falls to a Billingshurst player on the edge of the box, who then places an excellent shot past the goalie. This is as good as it gets for Billingshurst in the opening period as they prove to masters of their own downfall. Firstly they get caught out trying to play the ball out of defence before the forward pounce and he slots the ball home.Then from a long clearance forward, the midfielder gets a touch which plays the attacker in on goal and they make it two one before half time.

Sidlesham look to make the most of a throw in
Billingshurst come close to getting an equaliser early in the second half but the Sidlesham defender does well to get a good block from a drilled effort. Sidlesham's first effort on goal in the second half is a near post header from a free kick which is straight at the Billingshurst keeper. The game then becomes a bit scrappy before Sidlesham blow a glorious chance for a killer third. The attacker does the hard bit, getting around the keeper before hitting the side netting with goal at his mercy. The game ends in a two one loss for Billingshurst completing a double for myself - sorry guys.

Billingshurst look for an equaliser at the end of the first half
To get to Sidlesham you first need to take a train from Victoria which takes around an hour and a half. Then from the bus station you can take the regular 51 bus to Sidlesham. This should take twenty minutes depending on road works and a level crossing. Sidlesham is a very linear place. The first pub -  The Anchor which is a friendly with a couple of standard ales - is a bit of a walk from the ground and the other pub close by. This is The Crab and Lobster which is more of a posh restaurant but does have a couple of benches outside to enjoy the two local ales on offer. It was just bottles in the clubhouse but these did the job as did the very reasonable priced burger from the tea hut outside. An excellent day out in Westmost Sussex.


Moments before I was hit by the ball

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