STICKER 2-0 CREDITON UNITED

Walter C Parsons Cup Second Round

IT was a warm, sunny autumn afternoon near St Austell, the windmills gently turning in the background. Sticker FC were most welcoming, a friendly club with an excellent club house close to the pitch.

Crediton were slow out of the blocks, conceding a very early goal within the first minute, simply not clearing their lines whilst the home side were well organised from the off. Crediton continued to struggle for possession early on perhaps missing the presence of Cullompton bound Tariq.

Whilst Sticker were man for man physically stronger (and bigger, especially the giant number 5!), Crediton did not capitulate after their early shock. Lo had a half chance from a decent position on 13 minutes, whilst a Crediton corner produced a comfortable take for the Sticker keeper. Perry produced a good ball on 18 mins with just the keeper to beat and there was a speculative shot from the halfway line on 25 mins but both came to nought.

Crediton improved, playing well in the middle; Player of the Match Perry leading by example. Sticker’s tactic of long balls and hoping for something was being contained. Keeper Layton came off his line well on 32 minutes. Sticker were perhaps unlucky to miss from a strong free header 10 yards out that sailed over the bar.

The youthful Crediton side were showing plenty of honest endeavour, e.g. a good cross from Littlejohns to Aldrich, but Crediton were tending to rush their attacks, they needed to slow it down, perhaps with an extra touch. They were definitely getting more joy from playing it short but couldn’t penetrate the Sticker defence.

Crediton short passes were proving more effective in a game played largely in good spirits. After a strong challenge from Sticker there was a little bit of exuberance between the two number 8s but the referee knew what he was doing.

A Crediton free kick from a promising position presented another good chance from the flick on but again the strike was comfortably handled by the Sticker keeper. Half time score 1-0 to the hosts.

The half time break, for the fans at least, saw a free buffet in the club house, a nice surprise for the Kirton faithful that had made the journey across the border. No scones, so no jam/cream conflict!

Crediton made two subs at halftime Male and Fever on for Butterfield and Lo. An early Sticker free kick saw Layton come for it unsuccessfully but it fell fortunately to a Crediton boot to be cleared.

A Sticker free kick on 55 mins again landed kindly for a Crediton player. With Crediton pressing for an equaliser, there was the inevitable risk of a counter. Around ten minutes in to the second half Sticker doubled their lead, a fairly soft goal leaving Crediton no option but to go for broke. A few minutes later, a free kick then a corner, Crediton’s best spell of the game, but unable to breach the Sticker defences.

Crediton needed to be more direct, struggling to get near the final third at all really, despite their best efforts and a diligent performance. It was pleasing to see that at no point did Crediton heads go down.

Crediton Man of the Match: Jack Perry.

Joe Cookson