And they can take great heart from the way they refused to roll over despite going behind time and time again at the home of champions East Grinstead.

Andy Probee's men had drawn with the division's top team at the Selsey Road Rec earlier in the year and they gave them another scare in this final game of the season.

Tom Foster was made captain as reward for recent displays as Ricky Mullen sat out the game suspended. Lee Mullen was back from a ban.

East Grinstead took the lead but Jordan Willis soon levelled, netting the rebound after Chris Priest had battled past two defenders and hit the post.

The home side regained the lead and it was 2-1 at half-time.

Sidlesham suffered an injury blow when Steve Silvester went into a 50-50 tackle and hurt his ankle.

He was taken to hospital amid fears of a break, but it was diagnosed as ligament damage.

Boss Probee is hopeful Silvester will be fit by the start of pre-season training.

Sidlesham put that blow behind them to make it 2-2 three minutes into the second half when Willis got his second after a build-up involving Alex Brockway, Joe Briggs and Priest.

The game was following a familiar pattern and it was no real surprise when East Grinstead took a 3-2 lead minutes later.

But Steve Sneller was starting to get forward well from full-back and it was the second of his two forays into the home side's area that resulted in Brockway, who'd come on at half-time, heading the visitors' third equaliser.

At that point, Sidlesham felt they would be going home with some reward – but EG striker Toby Hutchinson had other ideas and netted twice in the final 15 minutes, the second as Sidlesham pushed men forward looking for a fourth equaliser, to leave Probee's troops empty-handed.

It meant a 13th-placed finish for Sidlesham and Probee said there was plenty to look forward to for next season.

"For what's been a new team put together last summer, it's been a decent season.

"With more consistency and an out-and-out goalkeeper, we could have finished in the top half. I can't fault the effort the lads have put in."