South West Peninsula League East

Crediton United 0 - Bovey Tracey 1

DIFFICULT to know what to say about this one. The game was a drab affair from start to finish and though both sides tended to huff and puff at times it really should’ve been a scoreless draw but for a pretty lucky clincher halfway through the first half.

After reaching the heights of last week’s 5-4 defeat at Ivybridge Town, Crediton never really ascended and could not follow up the wonderful performance of last week.

This was a match that they would’ve fancied their chances at with the visitors lying some places below them in the league but it was not to be.

Lee Waring was once again in goal which meant the volume capacity increased by several decibels.

Good old Lee, without his vocal support, it felt like the rest of the team had a Friday night hangover of sorts, or even gone to Exeter Christmas shopping like most of the town, which usually empties on a Saturday afternoon.

The front three of Stapleton, Allum and Cooper that was so dangerous last week just never got started, although if it wasn’t for Sam Stapleton’s finishing they may have been one or two goals up by the first 10 minutes.

Sam’s capacity for skill is terrific but he’s finishing was decidedly full of scuffs.

However what looked like an opening goal from Steve "Gossy" Goss, following a Guy Allum free kick, was disallowed for some strange reason.

This unsurprisingly led to an opening goal for the visitors almost immediately. The defence contriving to career into each other to allow a simple tap in for striker Finch.

This made it 1-0 to Bovey with 28 minutes gone.

I would like to say that the game was an exciting spectacle with great chances on both sides throughout the remaining 70 minutes or so but sadly I can’t.

In all nothing much happened apart from the odd substitute and some vaguely innocuous challenges and complaints to the referee of course who had a fine game.

The battle of the benches however was won hands down by the Bovey Tracey dugout who came out with cliche after cliche of the "set it up", "shape" and "squeeze" variety that put the Crediton bench to shame. They just could not cope with the jolly banter hailing from the visiting dugout which kept me amused for a while, although this was a bitterly cold day and the pitch in all honesty had not held up particularly well, which made a slick passing game out of the question.

Fiddling with my phone I noticed my Altrincham team had gone two down to Southend in the National League which made a dull day even duller.

I am pleased to say that they got one back but still they lost. Just before the end James Close sent one just wide and sub Kenny Ord passed one back to the goalie when well placed.

Oh yes and Bovey hit the post from a free kick but nothing raised a cheer or barely a comment.

Next week the Kirton are off to Elburton, oh the joy of it all. It is enough to make even Lee silent, well nearly.

Crediton team: Waring, Skinner, Oldfield, Close, Eginton, Goss, Chester, Lee, Cooper, Allum and Stapleton. Man of the match: Chester (first half), Close (second).

Paul Whittall