SPREYTON 5 - WITHERIDGE 3

SPREYTON finished the season with No 9 Chris Down reaching an epic 50 goals and ex gaffer Mark Baitup featuring from the bench and quite literally putting on a masterclass display turning the game on its head.

Ben Angel opened the scoring early in the game played on Monday, May 6 giving Spreyton the lead. They looked in control of the game for the majority of the first half playing some good football.

Witheridge nicked an unexpected goal on the stroke of half-time causing the Spreys to have a little wobble.

The second half was to bring a lot more action with Witheridge coming out of the traps quickly finding the back of the net again and giving the visitors the lead.

A short while later they were at it again scoring a third goal and really crushing the hopes of Spreyton finishing the season on a high!

With the game seemingly slipping away Tarik Burak was struggling with a knock and it was Mark Baitup who came on to replace the injured player taking up the wide right-forward position.

It didn’t take long for the game to take a turn with the Spreys winning a free kick on the edge of the area. Veteran Baits stepped up fancying his chances and proceeded to unleash a strike into the far left-hand corner seeing the ball rattle around in the Stanchion.

A great goal scored and a great boost to the players finding themselves back in the game! Baits was at it again playing a ball into Steve Kinsey who levelled the scoring making it 3-3.

A penalty was awarded to the Spreys seeing the Witheridge ‘keeper pulling off a great save from a Chris Down strike keeping the game level.

Down was not happy and made sure he made amends a short while later latching onto a through ball from Baits and lobbing the ‘keeper, a great response from the striker and giving the Spreys the lead.

Down saw another effort cleared off the line by a Withy defender. In the final seconds of the game it was Baits again putting in a great ball from the right finding Down at the back post to smash home. What a way to finish the season!

Man Of The Match was awarded to Mark Baitup with not only a goal and three assists but instilling some confidence back into the reds to turn the game around and get the three points.

A special mention for Chris Down reaching 50 goals and being the leagues top scorer for the second season in a row.

The Spreys also played a fixture away against Colyton Seconds on Saturday, May 4 which resulted in a win for Spreyton - 1-6.

Goals scorers were Chris Down (2), Cam Pow (2) and Owen Gregory (2).

Man of the match was Will Hawking.

Although Spreyton finish the season unbeaten in the league (bar an abandoned game earlier in the season against Exeter United which remains to be decided if it will be replayed) it was Kentisbeare Seconds who claimed the league title, also being unbeaten.

Very hard to take for the Spreyton lads but hats off to the winners with both sides completing the season with some great results.

Spreyton look forward to a well-earned rest before moving forward to new challenges in the coming season.

Tim Cockman