PAIGNTON VILLA 0 - CREDITON 4

CREDITON travelled to South Devon for a Devon Premier Cup First Round clash against Paignton Villa on Saturday, October 7.

Crediton’s opponents were sitting in mid-table in the league below them so this was a game the visitors were favourites to win on paper. However, on an exposed pitch with a severe cross wind, this meant anything could happen on the day.

Crediton were again missing several bodies as they went into the match, with Groom and Khoo working up a pole somewhere, Pike still recovering from his fractured rib and Lee ruled out with a back problem.

The game started in fairly scrappy fashion, with the wind playing a major factor, both teams were struggling to adapt to the conditions.

When they did finally get the ball down it was the home side who nearly opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Ash controlled and turned well on the edge of the box before crashing an effort off the underside of the crossbar, with Waring beaten all ends up.

Then it was Crediton’s turn to threaten, Trenaman’s goal-bound header looked destined for the net, but the agile Paignton stopper Shaw, leapt like a cat and clawed the ball off the line. The rebound fell kindly for Ord, but his vicious strike through a crowd of players was again superbly saved by the Paignton No 1.

In the 30th minute Crediton took the lead, but play was stopped after Paignton midfielder Hooper took a nasty whack in the nether regions. From the restart Carpenter retrieved the ball from deep and played a long ball over the top, with Ord quickest to latch onto it, he raced away from veteran defender Pryse Snr and slotted past Shaw with ease.

Crediton doubled their lead two minutes later, a short back pass from Terry put Paignton in all sorts of trouble, Blake was first to the ball and he dummied past Shaw, rolling the ball into an empty net to put some daylight between the two sides.

Two minutes later Ord almost made it three, after latching onto a long ball from Bilcock he looked certain to score, but that man Shaw was there again with another great reaction save, tipping the ball past the post for a corner.

Bilcock whipped in another dangerous delivery and it was Ord again with a chance, but he glanced his header wide.

Crediton were rampant at this stage and looked like scoring on every attack. This time it was Morish who broke free down the left, leaving his marker for dead and finding himself one-on-one, however his tame finish was far too easy for Shaw, who gobbled the ball up.

It was Paignton who went closest next, Trenaman sold Skinner short with a pass out from the back, this allowed Ash to nip in and break, he slipped past Goss and Trenaman, before rounding Waring. But with the goal gaping he could only fire into the side netting.

Moments later they nearly got on the scoresheet again, young midfielder Wright, hitting the post with Crediton losing concentration at the back.

Right on half-time Morish nearly extended Crediton’s lead. He combined with Durrant before firing a left-footed drive towards goal, but once again Shaw was there to avert the danger, meaning Crediton went in at half-time with just the two goal advantage.

The second half began fairly slowly, with little goalmouth action at either end. It was good to see Skinner back in the thick of things and after his big training session in which he performed 10 press ups and a 20-second plank he was looking transformed as he put Paignton’s young right-winger, firmly on the weights to pinch the ball back.

In the 60th minute Crediton sealed the game through Ord. He rose highest from a Bilcock corner and gave Shaw no chance with a bullet header.

Crediton rang the changes, as Townsend, McCann and Pryse replaced Yao, Bilcock and Trenaman. Townsend and McCann combined well down the right on several occasions but the young winger lacked length with his crosses on more than one occasion.

In the 75th minute Crediton added gloss to the scoreline, a long ball forward was missed by everyone and Pryse Snr stepped up, allowing Blake in on goal, he made no mistake, calmly lobbing the ball over the onrushing Shaw to make it 4-0.

The last 15 minutes saw little action and it was Crediton who ran out comfortable winners, with the difference in quality showing as the match wore on.

Although credit to the home side, who battled well and went close to scoring several times.

Next up for Kirton is a tough away fixture against the improving Honiton Town, on Saturday, October 14, 3pm kick off.

Crediton’s squad will be pushed to its limits with no fewer than seven players unavailable for the clash, so a real chance for a few of the youngsters to impress.

Dave Lee