WHISPER it softly, but Crediton United are becoming difficult to beat at home!

Under the guidance of local lads Matt Trenaman and Perry Carpenter a team is being put together that not only entertains but has a great degree of guts and resilience.

This was particularly evident against Budleigh Salterton where they managed to squeeze out a 3-2 victory that they undeniably did not really deserve. This is the way of winning sides.

There is quality and familiarity throughout the team these days with Scott Boardman and Matt Trenaman at the back rarely having a bad game and they are ably complemented by Jack Orchard, now a regular in the side.

A midfield galvanised by the increasingly consistent Adam Bilcock and Perry Carpenter adds guile to the overall feast and with the willing duo of Kenny Ord and Steve Goss up front there is reason to look forward confidently.

Added to this is for me the most influential player in the side and current captain, Lloyd Copp, who never seems to have a bad game and whose drive and commitment shows a wonderful aptitude for the game.

Anyone who witnessed his superb goal (and surely the goal of the season against Axminster) would surely agree with me.

South West Peninsula League Division East

UNIVERSITY OF

EXETER 1

CREDITON UNITED 2

It was a fine battling away win for Crediton at Topsham Road as the storms receded, at last and football returned on Saturday, March 1.

The pitch had a sodden look about it sure enough and it cut up badly as the game progressed but both sides made the best of the conditions.

University play their usual brand of patient and deliberate football and Crediton, who realise quite early on that this is not going to be a pitch for too much finesse, take a more direct approach, feeding Lloyd Copp down the right in particular and whose strong runs are a constant threat to the home side.

With new boy, Steve Millington in the heart of defence Kirton looked solid at the back.

The first clear chance fell to Kenny Ord on 22 minutes but he had too much time on the ball and the defence closed him down.

Midfield was generally full of bodies and it became a real battle against the elements.

Crediton opened the scoring on 32 minutes as the influential Lloyd Copp met a cross from the left with great force leaving the home 'keeper standing and watching.

It was a great finish from Lloyd whose surging runs are at times a joy to behold.

Then, just as you thought it was safe to taste the half-time orange, University broke away and scored the equaliser.

The second half was even harder because of the glue pot of a pitch. With Trenaman cool at the back and the away side pushing up on the flanks, there is hope and sure enough midway through the half Crediton regained the lead.

A sloppier goal there has not been all year but from a corner the ball eventually fell to Perry Carpenter who managed to squeeze it in.

Whether a 30-yard screamer or a goal like this they all matter and a delighted Kirton gained another away win on the strength of it, playing out time to record the first away win since the magnificent 3-0 triumph at title chasing Teignmouth.

CREDITON UNITED 4

AXMINSTER TOWN 1

Crediton scored four at home for the fourth time this season as they whacked Axminster at Lords Meadow on Saturday, March 15.

It has not been an easy year for the Ax and they find themselves in the sort of position all too familiar at headquarters and sympathy goes out to them, not too much mind!

Crediton were at "em from the off, galvanised by Lee "Creddy'ead" Waring encouraging as ever in the home goal.

But wait, who is this I see before me? Why it is Blakey! Yes, the return to the meadow for Richard Blake, fresh from his adventures at Witheridge and he steps up into the line for this fixture.

Only Liverton are keeping the Ax off the bottom of the league and it is not hard to see why. They are decidedly shaky in defence and from the off were being outstretched by the three pronged attack of Ord, Goss and Blakey.

Only 10 minutes in and the goal comes for the home side and, would you believe it, yes Blakey scores, following in after a fine cross field pass from Kenny Ord.

He showed great delight in this and it brought a smile to the faces of the faithful.

After 23 minutes it was 2-0 as Gossy struck home after a delightful through ball from Adam Bilcock.

Only a wonderful save by the visiting 'keeper stopped Perry Carpenter from making it three on the half hour and a couple of minutes later Bilcock was denied by the woodwork.

So, Crediton went in at half-time two up and in control of this fixture.

Just as you thought all was safe with the home side cruising at 2-0 Axminster came back strongly and pulled a goal back.

Dan Beer's low shot beat Waring from the edge of the area and this seemed to give the Ax lads confidence and for the next 15 minutes or so they got their own game together and posed something of a threat.

It was only when Kenny Ord finished off a fine move and made it 3-1 that you could consider the job nearly done.

Kenny spilled a much easier chance on 86 minutes but Adam Bilcock completed the scoring in the last minute with his customary class and flair with a low shot from around the penalty spot.

After seven consecutive away matches it was nice to record a fine home win at last and it was interesting to note that Crediton are now unbeaten at home in the league since the 2-0 defeat by Stoke Gabriel in October last year.

CREDITON UNITED 4

PLYMSTOCK UNITED 0

Crediton dominated this game, played on Saturday, March 29, from start to finish and if they had been more clinical in front of goal the scoreline could have easily been doubled.

The initial breakthrough came after only five minutes when the imperious Matt Trenaman stole in at the back post and swept the ball into the top corner for 1-0.

From then it was one-way traffic as the wide men tormented a lacklustre Plymstock defence.

Time and time again the Crediton team flooded forward. Kenny Ord in particular was highly influential.

On 20 minutes Perry Carpenter was clean through, only to be denied by a fantastic save, but the second goal would not come and the Plymstock net was not to be breached just yet.

It was not as though the away side did not create any chances, they did and at one stage it looked like they might just creep back into the game, but just as half-time approached Crediton killed off the game with two swift strikes.

It took probably the goal of the season by Lloyd Copp to double the scoreline. Picking the ball up in his own half, Lloyd marauded down the right side before cutting in and unleashing a shot of such brutal power that it gave the Plymstock goalie no chance.

Two minutes later Crediton made it three as Kenny Ord's fine solo run on the left culminated in a low shot past the 'keeper.

With the score at 3-0 at half-time it did not flatter the home side.

Although the second half produced many more chances it was down to Perry Carpenter on the hour to score the only goal, latching on to a fine through ball before rounding the goalie and side-footing the ball home, but in truth Crediton had won easily.

Towards the end Matt Woodward missed a golden opportunity to make it five but the points were secure by then and it had been another successful day for Kirton.

PW