CREDITON UNITED 2 - HOLSWORTHY 4

THIS was not one of Crediton United’s better days.

Although they made a strong comeback in what was the last quarter, they were completely outplayed for most of this Devon St Luke's Bowl game.

Perhaps it was something to do with the kits. Crediton were in their dark blue but the visitors arrived in a sort of dark grey instead of their usual black and white stripes and this made spotting who was who was difficult to say the least.

From the outset Holsworthy got their teeth into the game. They fought for everything and had Crediton chasing shadows very early on.

A bizarre incident led to the visitors first goal as Zak Stephens succeeded in touching the ball twice only just managing to keep the ball out of the net and from the resultant indirect free kick the visitors opened their account 0-1 after 22 minutes.

Twelve minutes later it was two as a corner was not defended well and it was too easy for the visitors to double their account.

Crediton just weren't in it and before half time the Holsworthy lads could have easily added to their tally.

It was no surprise that Holsworthy got their third on the hour and then a fourth came just afterwards and it looked as though this was going to be a real mauling.

In the last 20 minutes both sides made several substitutions as this match was over as a contest and Crediton began to get a foothold at last.

Will Collins scored from the penalty spot making the score 1-4.

Soon afterwards it was Dave Lee who popped up and sent a header past the away goalie for 2-4. But in all honesty, although Crediton could have added to their tally, Holsworthy also had their chances.

And were by far the dominant side and showed why they have had such a good start to the season in the Peninsula West.

The last time I saw them was away in North Devon and Crediton won 5-0 that day, but then that's football.

After the 7-0 mauling by Street in the FA Vase, Crediton would need to dust themselves down and react quickly to these defeats, but then they lost 4-0 at Middlezoy Rovers in the following league match as well.

So that is 15 goals conceded in the last three games and our next visitors are bottom of the table Axminster on Saturday when hopefully things will start to turn in a favourable fashion.

Crediton Team: Stephens, Maynard, Goss, Lee, Butterfield, Tootell, Pike, Harris, Collins, White and Bond. Subs: Allum, Littlejohns and Southcott.

Man of the Match: Dave Lee.

Paul Whittall