Honiton Town 2 - Crediton United 6

CREDITON rose to seventh place in the South West Peninsula League East after this emphatic win at Honiton Town.

This was a wonderful effort by the away side, who only had one substitute on the bench, so they were on their beam ends.

There was a start for young Aaron Hale, who had a splendid match, scoring a goal and being brought down for two penalties.

However, the star of the show had to be Shay Corrick who scored a superb hat-trick, including a clinical effort from just outside the box.

The pitch played beautifully, especially after all the wet weather and subsequent postponements we have had to suffer this year, so credit must go to the Honiton club.

The result of this match was never in doubt as after only five minutes Sam Stapleton curled a cross shot over the Town goalie and into the roof of the net, 0-1.

Then, after 34 minutes, a superb through ball from Adam Bilcock found Aaron Hale in the box and his first time flick gave the keeper not a hope, 0-2.

Louis Stephens set up Joel Jackson and his effort just cleared the crossbar as Crediton looked for a third goal before the break.

Then, a minute before the interval, the goal duly arrived as a cross from Louis Stephens on the right found Aaron Hale at the back post who was unceremoniously flattened by a miscalculating Honiton defender and it was Corrick who scored from the spot.

It was no more than Crediton deserved and they went in 0-3 up at the break.

After tea and cake, kindly supplied by the Honiton club, it was back outdoors for the second sitting.

No sooner had play begun but a fine turn and shot from Sam Stapleton made it 0-4 and although a goalkeeping error presented Honiton with a simple goal, at 1-4 Crediton were good value for their lead.

There was a return for former captan Aidan Whitfield and he showed what we had been since he left for Barnstaple Town a couple of months ago.

Sam Stapleton nearly added a fifth as the half developed but it was then the turn of Shay Corrick who fired clinically into the right hand corner after more good team approach work.

His shot just evaded the Honiton goalie for 1-5.

A sixth soon followed as Aaron Hale was tripped up by a tiring defender.

In fact, the defence had no answer to the skill and pace of this youngster all day.

Shay scored from the spot although the keeper got a slight touch on it and that was his third and Crediton’s sixth, 1-6.

There was still time for Honiton to score a scrappy goal, which was a shame because the defending had been great all afternoon.

A 2-6 scoreline was just what the doctor ordered for the lads and up to seventh in the table with one game to go they stand.

If they beat Sidmouth tonight there is every possibility of a top four finish which would be a wonderful achievement after all the upheaval there has been this season. 

Crediton Team: Seymour, Whitfield, Knight, Down, Johnson, Bilcock, Stephens, Jackson, Hale, Corrick and Stapleton. Sub: Tootel. Man of the Match: Shay Corrick.

Paul Whittall