South West Peninsula League East

Crediton United 3 Teignmouth 1

WHISPER it quietly, but it looks like Crediton are in a title race.

With Okehampton having lost 3-0 at Brixham and after Crediton’s splendid win over Teignmouth, the lads are only two points behind the leaders going into February which is a massive achievement by team and management.

It’s getting to the stage that when you come and watch you are thinking that the Kirton will win, which is such an improvement on previous years.

The new crop of players bring so much to the game and last Saturday it was so good to see the return of Dan Preece, surely one of our most influential players this season.

Teignmouth are no pushover and put up a strong performance even opening the scoring after just six minutes after what was a messy goalmouth scramble to lead 0-1.

Immediately Crediton were on the offensive. After 27 minutes Crediton got the ball they deserved as a splendid long ball from Steve Goss found Sam Stapleton who’s shot was well saved by the visiting keeper but the ball fell kindly to Kevin Pike and he made no mistake from close range.

Aidan Whitfield was booked for a clumsy challenge in midfield but still Crediton held firm and attacked in style.

Just before half time it was 2-1 as Harvey Dorothy continued his good form by shooting home from the edge of the penalty area to put the home side ahead, and this was no more than they deserved.

Teignmouth were putting up a good show but Crediton were dominating and as they trooped off for half time you felt as though the ascendancy was with them.

The second half was only five minutes old when Oakley Bennett shot over the top when well placed and soon after the Teignmouth goalie made a breath-taking save from a goal bound header from Steve Goss to keep the score at 2-1.

Then with 20 minutes left Crediton score their third as young substitute Scott Chambers saw the keeper slightly off his line and executed a superb chip/lob over him and into the net it plopped. What a day for the young man, scoring on his debut.

The crowd loved it and so did his teammates and the team celebrated in style.

At this stage the Teignmouth boss was asked to leave the premises and did so in a vaguely grumpy fashion, especially as his team were losing.

However he was about to get even more grumpy before the game came to an end.

With around eight minutes left the Teigns goalkeeper was surprisingly sent off.

We presume colourful comments about the referred were overheard by the linesman and the goalie was asked to leave the proceedings.

Whether he was the guilty man is open to debate. It was a shame before he had a great game between the sticks making crucial saves more than once.

The final few minutes of the game fizzled away and Crediton had another three points in the bag. Next week it will be Honiton away after a trip to Axminster in the cup on Tuesday.

Crediton Team Arthur Whitfield © Knight Bilcock Goss Gillard Bennett Dorothy Preece Pike Stapleton Subs Johnson Howe Chamber

Man of the Match: Harvey Dorothy

Crediton went out the league cup 2-1 at Axminster at the quarter final stage on Tuesday night as a goal from Harvey Dorothy was not enough and the adventure is over for another year.

In the league on Saturday Crediton gained a creditable 3-3 draw away at Honiton Town with a wonderful hattrick including a late penalty from Harvey Dorothy who it seems cannot stop scoring at the moment. A great fight back at the home of the Hippos in East Devon.