LIVERTON UNITED 3 - CREDITON UNITED 2

CREDITON made the relatively short away journey to Liverton on an wet and windy Saturday afternoon (March 4).

After heavy rain on the Friday it was a surprise to some that the game was on, and after five minutes of play, both sets of players wished it wasn’t, as the pitch was extremely heavy and almost unplayable.

With gaffer Trenaman away looking for potential new signings in Madrid, assistant Emlyn took charge and Crediton reverted to a 4-3-3 formation.

Waring continued between the sticks and the only change saw McCann come in for Pike at full-back.

Crediton started the game the liveliest of the two teams but the surface prevented any sort of free-flowing football.

Playing with the strong wind in the first 45 minutes you always felt a half-time lead was necessary and Crediton ensured that Bilcock slotted home a free kick after 25 minutes to give Kirton the lead.

Waring was much of a spectator for the first half as Crediton pressed but lacked real quality in the final third.

The second 45 minutes saw chances a plenty as conditions worsened. Durrant missed a glorious chance to put the game to bed on 55 minutes as he fired wide and almost immediately Liverton were level.

They raced up the other end and winger Connor Stewart nipped in ahead of McCann at the far post to level the scores.

Chances then arrived for both sides as Goss looked certain to score, but he headed over from three yards from a Bilcock corner.

Out of nowhere Livvy were ahead, Newnham tapping home from a left wing cross. Shell-shocked Crediton then piled forward in search of an equaliser, Ord replaced Bilcock as Crediton changed to a 4-4-2.

Despite working themselves into several great positions there was a distinct lack of quality in the final third and it was often the final pass or shot that was missing for the frustrated visitors.

However on 75 minutes Harris made an impact sub Bradford came on for Morish and immediately got in behind. His first touch was a cross-shot that found Blake at the far post, who had the simplest of tasks to even the scores at two apiece.

Crediton went in search for a winner but it was the hosts who scored next, an in-swinging corner was only half cleared and Aplin volleyed at goal from the edge of the box. The ball sliced horribly off of Bradford and flew into the top corner.

With only 10 minutes to go the visitors piled forward. Ord got in down the left and cut the ball back to Lee. However, his goal-bound effort was excellently blocked and the ball was cleared.

Moments later Bradford had an effort go agonisingly wide and further half chances fell to Durrant and Blake.

The ball would just not fall to a Crediton shirt, despite monumental pressure. The hosts held on for a narrow 3-2 victory.

A disappointing day for Crediton as three points were needed to keep pace with the league’s high fliers, who pulled further away from them with positive results of their own.

Next up, on Saturday, is a tough home fixture against top of the table Teignmouth. Crediton will be looking to avenge their 3-2 defeat when they faced the Teign’s earlier in the season after leading 2-0 at half-time.

On Wednesday (March 15) Crediton face Exeter University in the Devon Premier Cup Semi-Final at Cullompton Rangers FC (7.30pm kick off), a huge fixture for the club who are now only one step away from the final.

Crediton haven’t picked up any silverware since the 1970’s so please come along, support the lads and hopefully help propel them into the final!

Dave Lee