Peninsula League Division One East

Friday, August 19

CREDITON UNITED 4

BOVEY TRACEY 1

CREDITON opened their home league campaign on Friday, August 19, after the 3-0 defeat at St Martin’s. The formation was switched to a 3-5-2 with Blake and Bradford replacing Skinner and Dave from the starting 11.

Crediton started on the front foot, pinning Bovey back into their own half and won a penalty on nine minutes after Si Durrant was barged over in the box.

Bilcock calmly stroked the penalty to the bottom left with the ‘keeper rooted to the spot. At this stage Crediton looked very comfortable and assured with the midfield three of Bilcock, Carpenter and Bradford controlling the proceedings.

Crediton, who were donning their new Courtney’s Garage kit, were starting to play with a real swagger and doubled their lead on 21 minutes.

An outswinging Bilcock cross was powerfully headed home via a bullet header by Steve Goss from 12 yards. The lead was further extended on 36 minutes, excellent interplay in the middle of the park slipped through Jonny Bradford which left the home defence bamboozled and Bradford kept his composure to powerfully drill home from 18 yards in off the far post which sealed a thoroughly dominant first half performance.

The second half saw a switch in momentum with Bovey playing some attractive football on the deck and started to create problems for the back three.

After a spell of pressure an initial shot was saved by Tonkin, the rebound was tucked home from eight-yards by Jack Salmons.

This then saw Bovey have their best spell and went close when a 20 yard free kick was well tipped over the bar by Tonkin.

Stone and Snow were both introduced and Crediton killed the game on 71 minutes, a harmless left-wing cross from Morish was not dealt with by the young Bovey ‘keeper and last season’s goalscoring hero Richard Blake was on-hand to head home from four yards to complete the scoring at 4-1.

Nathan Keast