NEWTON ABBOT SPURS 4 - CREDITON UNITED 1

CREDITON United were dumped out of the Walter C Parsons League Cup Second Round at the first attempt on Saturday, October 11 at Newton Abbot Spurs and the scoreline would have been much bigger if it were not for the goalkeeping acrobatics of young Lewis Layton.

If it were not for him the gap in the goals for Crediton would have been greater to say the least.

Crediton were without Dave Lee, Kevin Pike and Lukey White so they were short on experience.

Young Will Collins was named captain for the day. Therefore, there were debuts for Jake Shaw, Denys Dushkin and Karine Coulabaly.

It was two goals each from the experienced Adam Dyson and Tom Sercombe which was the difference in the end.

From the off Newton laid siege to the Crediton goal and were ahead within three minutes as the away side conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area and gave a free header with no one picking up the striker whose header flew past the Crediton keeper with no blame attached, 0-1.

The home side smelt blood and left Crediton chasing shadows for most of the first half.

Four times Crediton were saved as Lewis made save after save and chances were squandered by the home side.

Then, on 22 minutes, Newton went further ahead as Jake Shaw lost possession on the edge of the area and a fine shot flew into the net courtesy of a simple unmarked effort.

Crediton were being run ragged and time and again Lewis was the hero and must have made at least seven or eight saves during the first half.

Crediton could think themselves lucky to only be two down at half time.

It was a brighter start after the introduction of the half time orange and after only five minutes Isaac Littlejohns pulled one back for the away side from close in, 2-1. Crediton now entered in to their most confident period of the game without seriously troubling the home goalie and it was only due to a flying one handed save from the away goalie that kept the score to two.

Then, with around 10 minutes to go, Newton broke forward after Crediton were caught pushing up to try and gain the equaliser and the striker lifted the ball over Layton from the edge of the area, 3-1 and the game had gone for the away side.

All four substitutes came on but little changed, in truth as Crediton were chasing a game they were almost always second best in.

A fourth came soon after as a corner on the right was headed home by a completely unmarked striker, 4-1 and Crediton were out of a competition they made to the semi final of last year.

The lads now face a difficult trip to Ilfracombe on Tuesday, October 14, where it is to hoped that some of the regulars return because experience and some expertise counts for a great deal at this level.

Crediton team: Layton, Maynard, Goss, Bond, Butterfield, Shaw, Drew, Dushkin, Collins, Littlejohns and Coulabaly.

Substitutes: Harris, Wilson, Tootel and Lungu.

Man of the Match: Lewis Layton.

Paul Whittall