CREDITON 1 SIDMOUTH 0

TOP of the table Crediton welcomed Sidmouth to Lords Meadow looking to bounce back from last week’s FA Vase defeat away at Brockenhurst. They were also looking for a bit of revenge, against a side who knocked them out of the league cup earlier in the season, with Crediton putting in their worst performance of the season.

Trenaman was again without a large number of players, with no fewer than seven unavailable. He was still able to name a strong starting 11, but with just two substitutes in the form of 17 year-olds Partridge and Tapp.

The game started at a slow pace, with neither side able to create any clear cut opportunities. Sidmouth however were causing problems from set pieces with a number of players well over the 6ft mark. Newberry should have done better with a free header but he could only head wide of the mark.

At the other end Crediton had their first opportunity of the game, Ord burst down the left before firing hard and low across goal, but Vikings defender Clampin managed to avert the danger and turn the ball behind for a corner.

Bilcock’s delivery caused a problem for the away side and they could only half clear, with the ball dropping to Lee 15 yards out, but he could only volley wide on his weaker left foot.

Chances were few and far between for the remainder of the half, with a real aerial battle going on between Lee and giant midfielder Davies, with striker Knight, also dropping deep for goal kicks to add to Lee’s problems.

Bilcock then had a chance from 25 yards as Durrant was felled by Newberry, but he couldn’t keep his free kick on target and it sailed harmlessly over the bar.

The clock ticked on as the sides looked destined to go in level at the break. However, the best chance of the half fell to the visitors right on the stroke of half time, Binion whipped in a corner and Knight lost his marker Trenaman, somehow from six yards he managed to stoop and head over the bar, when it looked easier to score.

Crediton breathed a sigh of relief and the sides went in 0-0 at the break.

The second 45 continued to have a similar pattern to the first, Crediton seeing the majority of the ball, but Sidmouth were still looking dangerous from set pieces as the game became more open. Crediton decided to switch to a zonal marking system for the second 45, which seemed to pay dividends as they dealt with some early corners and free kicks. 

Bilcock then had another chance with a free kick, this time from 30 yards out, he whipped an effort over the wall but unfortunately just the wrong side of the post with the keeper scrambling.

On the hour mark Crediton took the lead, Bilcock delivered a corner to the edge of the six yard box, where it was met by the unfortunate head of Sidmouth defender Newberry, who fired a diving header past his own keeper. With finishing like that he could have given Knight a few tips at the other end of the pitch. 

Sidmouth pressed for an equaliser but it was Crediton who came closest to doubling their advantage, Bilcock nearly caught the Vikings keeper by surprise when he went for goal from all of 35 yards with a free kick, unfortunately for the Kirton midfielder his effort cannoned back off the post. 

Young Crediton winger Yao was then on the receiving end of a crunching tackle from behind, falling awkwardly and damaging his ankle in the process, this forced Crediton into their first change, as the pacey Tapp replaced him in a like for like swap.

Crediton’s back four of Carpenter, Goss, Trenaman and McCann were defending resolutely and there was no way through for the visitors.

However in the 80th minute they were let off the hook, after some sloppy play in midfield by Durrant, he turned infield straight into Davies, who pinched the ball and set Sidmouth away with a three on two break, luckily for Crediton, Smalls took a heavy touch when through on goal and Carpenter was able to recover to stop him in his tracks. 

Partridge then replaced Blake for the final 10 minutes and he and Tapp combined to send Crediton away down the left, unfortunately his final ball let him down with Ord and Bilcock perfectly placed to seal the game.

Sidmouth threw more and more bodies forward, with Clampin being thrown up front, completing a four man strike force, but there was no way through as the Crediton wall of defenders stood firm, with Lee dropping in to help deal with the extra bodies. 

Crediton held on for an important 1-0 win which takes them four points clear at the top of the table. Not the most inspiring performance, but a result that shows the side can dig in against a different style of team and grind out the three points. 

Next up for Kirton is Devon Premier Cup match, home vs Watcombe Wanderers, tomorrow Saturday, November 4, 2pm K.O.

Dave Lee