Sidley close in on Patton

The ball-playing midfielder was with Eastbourne Borough as a youngster and played for Eastbourne Town last season before making a handful of appearances for Rye United at the start of this term.

Sidley manager John Lambert said: “He looked good in training the other night and we could do with someone of his quality. He’s my type of player, young, good midfield player, likes to get into it.”

Although Lambert hasn’t managed Patton previously, he does know “quite a bit about him” having played with and against his dad, Steve, in years gone by.

While Patton could be coming in, fringe player Carl Morris has gone out having signed for Westfield at the back end of last week and played the 90 minutes in their match against Hailsham Town on Saturday.

Sidley will return to home soil today (Saturday) for the visit of a Lancing side which went second in Sussex County League Division One with a victory away to long-time leaders Pagham last weekend.

Lambert went on: “We’ve got an absolutely massive game Saturday. Lancing are flying and we’re looking forward to that. They’re definitely the best side we’ve played this year.

“They gave us a footballing lesson down there (Lancing were comfortable 2-0 winners in September’s reverse fixture). It’s a big test for us, but any player worth their salt wants to play against sides like that.”