SIDMOUTH TOWN 2 - CREDITON UNITED 1

IT was a bit chilly at Sidmouth on Saturday, March 23 for this South West Peninsula League East Division game. While the two teams played out the first half I chatted to Pat Sherriff and Chris Gillard. Up popped Dave Job and I spoke to him as well for a while.

I asked where is Sheila and Dave said that she was operating the tea hut for the Reserves back home. I said she was a “trooper”. I also noticed Dave Blanchford chatting to club stalwarts Graham and Mary Avery and I waved cheerfully. I had a pack of minstrels in my pocket but thought I would wait ’til the game got interesting before starting them.

This I therefore did in the 44th minute when Kenny Ord missed an absolute sitter. I said that my cat could have probably scored that one and Graham piped up with “if he’s 16 we’ll sign him up”. Sadly Alby (a keen competitor) is only two. Much laughter ensued.

That just about summed up the first half excitement! Then we all trooped in for our teas and coffee in the sanctuary of the Manstone Lane clubhouse where there was a tremendous amount of yarning with old friends.

One of the great things about these games is the old local rivalries, some of which stretch back many many years.

The second half was a much more lively affair and Sidmouth opened the scoring in the 47th minute when a straightforward cross from the right was met unopposed at the far post with good old Lee Waring motionless, that is to say as motionless as he ever gets.

Crediton nearly hit back straightaway when a cross from the right wing was met with a powerful header from Matt Trenaman who hit the bar. Close thing.

Crediton now began to realise that they needed to step it up and they did. The pressure was mounting. Kenny Ord’s superb turn and cross was just a little too hot for Simon Durrant and Sidmouth nearly scored an identical goal to their first one as Crediton yet again were invisible in the region of left back and only a breathtaking save from Waring kept the score at 1-0.

With Dan McCann and Trenaman looking secure at the back, and Dave Lee combative as ever in midfield, it seemed Crediton would manage to equalise due to the pressure they were putting on, but Sidmouth still looked dangerous on the break and in the 90th minute this proved to be true as the Vikings added a second against the run of play.

There was still time for Kenny Ord to score his eighth goal in three games with a clinical header from Ollie Snows’ dead ball but it was too little too late. The ref blew for full-time and the home side scraped through with a 2-1 win.

It was hard on Crediton who improved as the game progressed and probably a draw would have been a fairer result. But then I would say that wouldn’t I?

Man of the Match for Crediton was Matt Trenaman.

Paul Whittall