Crediton United 4 - Ilfracombe Town 3

CREDITON gained an unlikely triumph at Lords Meadow on Tuesday, November 9, defeating Western League Premier Ilfracombe Town by four goals to three.

This was the most astonishing turn around by Matt Trenaman’s boys who found themselves 3-1 down at half-time, just as they did against neighbours Elmore only a couple of weeks ago.

These lads just don’t seem to know when the game is up and this must give great credit to the managers and coaching team.

Captain Dave Lee in particular deserves great credit and put in a real leader’s performance in midfield alongside Jonny Bradford who managed to get himself sent off at the end, dashing a full 60 yards to join in an inauspicious melee by the corner flag.

As Crediton were 4-3 ahead and time was running out this was a pointless act of time wasting.

Upfront the trio of Guy Allum, Leyton Cooper and Sam Stapleton gave the Ilfracombe side plenty to think about. The game started with Crediton on the front hoof.

They looked completely in control and were unlucky not to take the lead.

In the 26th minute that is exactly what they did as defender Steve "Gossy" Goss sent a header past the visiting goalie from a free kick on the right.

This was a lead that Crediton deserved and it was as if the Town had not got going, but only five minutes later they found themselves 2-1 up.

Firstly and only a minute after Crediton took the lead Charlie Prentice slotted home with the defence nowhere.

In the 32nd minute they took the lead as the boys at the back were caught napping and a fine chip from Liam Short gave Ilfracombe what felt like an undeserved lead.

Crediton’s game was flat and it could have been worse for the home side. Sam Stapleton shot wide but that was the best that it got and then on the stroke of half-time Ilfracombe made it three.

The wheels had definitely come off and there looked like no way back for the home side. However Matt Trenaman’s team talk must have been a fine motivator as the lads produced the most remarkable of second halves.

Firstly “Gossy” headed just wide from a free kick and soon the Kirton pulled a goal back to bring them back into the cup tie.

In the 63rd minute and after a fine flowing move the goal came, finished clinically by Leyton Cooper, as he drove the ball home.

The pattern was changing and it was the visitors who began to display some nervous moments.

With Dave Lee pulling the strings in midfield Crediton equalised in the 70th minute with Leyton Cooper once more the hero with a splendid turn and shot which gave the goalkeeper no chance.

The tie now began to bubble over with the scores level but it was Crediton who belied their lowly position in the league by constantly putting Ilfracombe on the defensive and in the 80th minute after a superb bout of attacking play it was left to Dave Lee who headed the ball home via the crossbar.

What a triumph for the home side. A simply superb fight back! However Ilfracombe should have equalised when a point blank header was missed in the 92nd minute which should have taken the game into “extras”.

One imagines that stand in goalie Ben Clement must have given the unfortunate striker one of his hard stares causing him to balloon it over the bar.

This really should have been decisive but it was not to be and soon after the aforementioned melee and the exit of Mr Bradford the ref put his whistle to his lips and blew, leaving most of the 92 supporters happily bumbling off home. Roll on the next round of the cup. Well done lads.

Crediton team. Clement, Eginton, Hammill, Chester, Groome, Goss, Bradford, Lee, Cooper, Allum, Stapleton/Snow Montgomery. Man of the match: Dave Lee. Attendance 92. Match ball Sponsor - Myles Sutherland.

Paul Whittall