CREDITON UNITED 0 - BOVEY TRACEY 1

CREDITON welcomed Bovey Tracey to Lords Meadow for their second home fixture of the season on Saturday, September 2.

Bovey arrived in good form, having won three out their opening four fixtures, narrowly losing to Crediton’s next opponents, unbeaten Newton Abbot Spurs.

Crediton also came into the game in good form after starting the 2017/2018 campaign with four straight wins.

Trenaman was forced into changes due to the unavailability of Morish, Durrant and Carpenter, and opted to go with a 4-4-2 formation, partnering the returning Blake and previously injured Ord, up front.

The back four remained the same as the previous week, Townsend shifted out to the left-hand side of midfield, with McCann deployed on the right, leaving Bilcock and Lee in the middle.

Crediton started the game slowly for once and were fortunate not to fall behind inside 10 minutes, some neat wing play from Livingstone resulted in a cut back to the edge of the box, where former Torquay United midfielder Stevens, crashed a left-footed drive, narrowly past the post with Waring beaten all ends up.

Crediton did finally settle into the game once they had adapted to their new shape and should have taken the lead on 20 minutes. Ord played Blake in behind the Bovey back four, but the veteran striker could only fire straight at Bojar.

Waring was doing an excellent job of sweeping for the home side, with Bovey looking to use the pace of their wingers Livingstone and Churchill to get in behind the Crediton defence.

Groom and Goss continued where they left off, keeping former Western League striker Bushin, extremely quiet.

Crediton again had a great chance to take the lead on 30 minutes. Lee won the ball in midfield and released Ord who was clean through on goal, however instead of taking his time and moving towards goal, he opted to shoot first time but again, straight at Bojar.

Blake then had another half chance, but the opportunity came and went, with Trenaman visibly frustrated on the sidelines.

Just before half-time there was a moment of madness from Bovey right back Tucker.

Bilcock shifted the ball out to Townsend on the left heading back towards his own goal, but Tucker decided to lunge in at real pace, with his studs high, catching young Townsend on the shin.

The referee blew his whistle straight away and rushed over, brandishing the Bovey full-back a straight red card, despite his claims that he got the ball.

A silly challenge to say the least. This gave Crediton some momentum but they could not find the breakthrough before the half-time whistle.

The second 45 minutes saw Bovey revert to a deep back three, with a solid bank of four in front, leaving Bushin up front on his own.

On 48 minutes it was the away side that surprisingly took the lead against the run of play. Churchill gathered the ball on the left and ran at pace down the wing, what followed was a real stroke of luck. He sliced his attempted cross, but it floated over the head of Waring and into the top corner of the Crediton net.

Bovey continued to sit back, allowing Crediton the majority of possession and trying to play on the counter with their pacey wide men.

Crediton should have drawn level on the hour mark however. McCann was set free down the right and whipped an inch perfect cross to Blake, four yards from goal, but he made a complete mess of the finish and it bobbled agonisingly wide, when it looked easier to score.

Crediton continued to push for the equaliser but the Bovey defence stood firm, Ord headed wide from another McCann cross, Bilcock fired wide after a mazy dribble and then McCann hit a post after some pinball in the box.

Bradford came out of retirement and made his return from the substitutes bench, but neither he or fellow substitute Yao could find the breakthrough.

As Crediton committed more and more men forward they became more vulnerable on the counter, especially when Groom was thrown up front. Waring made an outstanding one-on-one save from Bovey substitute Collins and Crediton continued to press.

Yao then went close with an acrobatic attempt and Groom headed wide from a corner. Unfortunately for Kirton they could not find their shooting boots and Bovey held on, to inflict the home sides first defeat of the season.

On another day Crediton could and probably should have won this game comfortably, missing numerous gilt edge chances.

Credit must go to the visitors though, who applied themselves well and defended excellently, especially when they went down to 10.

Crediton will be disappointed to drop points for the first time this season but will take positives from the game, it was another good defensive display and they managed to create plenty of chances.

United’s next game is tomorrow, Saturday, September 9, when they travel to Axminster for their FA Vase match.

The club is running a coach leaving the Lords Meadow car park at 12.30pm. Supporters are welcome - fare is £4.

Dave Lee