FA Vase Second Qualifying Round

SIDMOUTH TOWN 0 - CREDITON UNITED 6

JUST when I was beginning to think that Crediton had given their best performance of the season, they simply bettered it.

At Manstone Lane on Saturday, September 24, they simply took Sidmouth apart and made them look a shadow of the side that they beat narrowly on Tuesday night.

A good-sized crowd was present, and the expectation was high but from the outset the small gathering from Crediton were under no illusion of how much the team has progressed this season.

Messrs Furzer and Foster are doing an incredible job with these lads and the mixture of seniors and juniors is working so well it is difficult to think of more superlatives for them.

Unfortunately, young star Oakley Bennett was out with an injury, so hero of the last game Harvey Dorothy played in an attacking midfield role.

As early as the 11th minute Sam Stapleton went down under a clumsy challenge and the referee pointed to the spot.

The spot kick was duly converted by James Mudge for 0-1 and although Crediton lost Dave Lee to injury as early as the 14th minute this did not hamper them.

On came Marcus Howe who just ran and ran for the full 90 constantly harassing the Vikings.

Then it was Kieran Knight who was for me the player of the match playing in the same right wing spot that he did on Tuesday that shot just over when it looked like the chance had passed him by.

After 31 minutes it was 0-2 Kieran Knight was again involved with a wonderful cross pass to Sam Stapleton who shot clinical home across the keeper.

The game was already looking beyond the home side and wave after wave of Crediton attacks left them scratching their heads. Dan Preece had a header well saved by the home goalie but just before half-time a Sidmouth defender carelessly gave the ball away in the area and captain Aidan Whitfield stole the ball and shot home.

So, at half-time it was the away side who lead by 0-3 and the game appeared to be over as a contest.

The second half began in much the same way as the first as after two minutes of the restart it was Kieran Knight who crossed for James Mudge to score his second.

Kieran ran the defence ragged for the duration of the game and looked a fantastic player.

What a joy for the Crediton away contingent to see such a performance and it was not long before even more pain was dealt out by the away side.

Kevin Pike came on for Mudgee preventing him yet again from a hat-trick that would have inevitably come his way.

Crediton swept forward and with 20 minutes left Dan Preece was put through by Knight yet again and finished clinically.

This now made the score 0-5 and although Ethan Clark made a fine save at the other end as Sidmouth tried in vain to establish a foothold on the game, Crediton looked completely in control.

Sam Stapleton shot over after another of his mazy runs and Kieran Knight hit the bar.

Then both Kevin Pike and Sam Stapleton looked as though they would score but somehow the ball stayed out.

Then, with just four minutes left Kieran Knight put Kevin Pike through and the substitute finished clinically for 0-6.

There was still time for Kieran to once again test the keeper, but his wonderful strike was kept out.

A heroic performance from the Kirton and they now face a trip to Mangotsfield United in the next round.

The back four looks as solid as any I have seen, and the full backs are thoroughly enterprising in their game.

With the experience of Adam Bilcock and James Mudge they have players who read the game superbly and in the likes of Kieron Knight they have a player who is in such wonderful form the sky appears to be the limit for this team.

Well done lads and see you next time.

Crediton team: Clark, Whitfield, Preece, Lee, Johnson, Goss, Bilcock, Dorothy, Mudge, Knight and Stapleton.  Subs: Pike and Fanning.  Man of the Match: Kieran Knight.

Paul Whittall