CREDITON UNITED 1-2 STOKE GABRIEL

CREDITON snatched defeat from the jaws of victory on Saturday as Stoke Gabriel took the points in this highly competitive match at Lords Meadow.

Crediton again fielded a very young side and they battled admirably throughout and gave Stoke a tough match.

It's good to see the return of goalie Lewis Layton who was superb throughout and kept Crediton in the game with save after save much to the frustration of the away side.

However, this was a game of very few chances. Crediton did not have a shot on goal until the very end and despite the willingness of Seb Roach and Jacob Fever up front, chances were few and far between.

The first half came and went without affairs of great significance and the game only really took off in the second half.

At the midway stage there was an unusual sending off as Thierno Lo was red carded by the referee much to the bewilderment of the home supporters.

It was very hard to see what had happened but it was generally agreed that he was sent to the touch line by the ref.

Then about four minutes later he popped back onto the pitch only to be cautioned by the over fussy ref. Then it appeared that something was said.

Presumably this was of a derogatory nature and the lad was sent off.

Creddy were now down to 10 but this did not deter them and Lewis Layton made several good saves keeping the home side in the game, Crediton began to get forward and with five minutes left, and with their first effort on goal Seb Roach scored for the home side 1-0.

This stirred Stoke and almost immediately they equalised with a direct run and shot which gave Lewis no chance. 1-1.

The referee then proceeded to play around 10 minutes of injury time and this gave Stoke a chance to win the game despite having their own player sent off just before the end.

It was the sixth minute of time added on and after a goalmouth scramble the ball was drilled home and consequently gave Stoke the victory they probably just about deserved.

This was tough on the home side who deserved something from the match but well done for putting up such a fight.

Next is Teignmouth away on Wednesday night before a trip to in form Honiton next Saturday.

Crediton team: Layton, Leach, Gething, McKenzie, Garnsworthy, Perry, Ebdon, Lo, Roach, Fever, Littlejohn. Subs: Male, Butterfield.

Man of the Match: Lewis Layton.

Paul Whittall