Sidley looking for improvement in cup

The Blues' involvement in the competition almost came to an end last weekend when they needed an injury time winner to sneak past the challenge of Division Two Lingfield.

But things could have been very different because the Sidley goal led something of a charmed life in the opening quarter-of-an-hour as the visitors were twice kept out by the woodwork.

Sidley resume their bid for cup glory on February 3 at home to another Second Division side in the form of leaders Pagham.

"In the cups it's all about the result. The performance was poor and hopefully we can put it down to a blip," said joint manager Andy Laskey.

"Potentially, the winners will have a semi-final against Eastbourne Town (who meet Arundel in the other quarter-final on Sidley's side of the draw) so we shouldn't need to get the players up for this match. I think you will see a very different Sidley to last weekend."

Steve Morris (back), Josh Brown (migraine), Jimmy Watson (holiday) and Lee Wood (knee) will either come into contention or turn out for the reserves.

Sidley have admitted the long-running fiasco over their floodlights is getting "ridiculous".

The Blues had to postpone a match because of the problem for the third time on Tuesday night and a fourth cancellation next Tuesday is becoming increasingly likely.

Honorary secretary Roy Maplesden said: "We can't carry on like this because this is ridiculous. We're now losing revenue because the social club isn't getting drinkers through the door."

Maplesden added that he has been attempting to get hold of a Wales-based contact to carry out the lux test on the lights on a daily basis.

He also mentioned that the Sussex County League's grounds committee chairman Steve Nealgrove and chairman Peter Bentley have been urging the person in question to carry out a job which has already been put-back twice because of bad weather. Kick-off against Pagham has consequently been brought forward to 1.30pm.

In the improbable event of Tuesday's league game with Eastbourne United Association going ahead, kick-off will be at 7.45pm.