CREDITON hosted Newton Spurs on a drizzly Friday evening at Lords Meadow which gave the pitch a slick look.

From glancing at the league table you would have thought this would be a high scoring close affair with the two teams scoring goals for fun and locked on the same amount of points.

Creddy brought in Ollie Snow for his debut at left-back and Mark Harris on the bench, with Mike Broome making the long dash back after his unsuccessful trip to Leeds.

Creddy started the game much better than against Exeter Uni the previous weekend with the defense looking much more solid.

With Snowy and Craig Skinner at full-back and Dave Lee in a deeper centre-half role the boys looked balanced and well-protected by Matt Trenaman and Durrant in centre midfield.

Richard Blake almost opened the scoring on 15, a 22-yard piledriver cannoned down off the underside of the bar and away to safety.

Both sides were playing attractive football trying to get the ball down and play through their respective midfields.

The away side always looked for the impressive Ian Wilkinson to get on the ball and dictate from there.

The hosts took the lead on 26. “Twinkle-toes” Steve Morish was fouled just inside the area and Trendy slotted the penalty past the ‘keeper’s dive to put Creddy one up.

The visitors started to create some chances and Spurs player/manager Adam Dyson failed to convert after a mix up from a long through ball.

Waring, in the home goal, was looking assured and made a couple of excellent stops from Bowden and Matthews.

Jamie Parsons made a last ditch foul on the line of the penalty box but luckily for the hosts the referee ruled a free kick and not a penalty. The free kick was struck high over the bar to see the score 1-0 at half-time.

Creddy were forced to replace Parsons with Broomie at half-time which saw a 19th centre-half partnership of the season with Broomer slotting in next to the impressive Dave.

The second half continued the same as the first with both teams getting down and trying to play but with both defences on top.

The visitors were looking to make the most of their 3-5-2 formation, but the hosts looked to counter through the wide areas.

Spurs almost drew level on 60 minutes, a low pull-back was well-cleared by Broomie. Dyson thought he had levelled the scores on 66 minutes but his clinical lob was ruled out for offside.

Creddy sealed the win on 75 minutes, persistent play from Dazza Pidge saw him slip Emlyn Harris in from 12 yards to slot low across Scott Bellamy to give the hosts a comfortable lead.

Blakey should have made the scoreline look more flattering after he intercepted a back pass, but with Bellamy on the floor Blakey somehow smashed the ball 27 yards over the bar.

A good win for Creddy which sees them record an important clean sheet against a good side who will finish in the top half of the league this season.

The result pushes us into 10th place and still with ambitions of making the top six come the end of the season.

A one-week break is in store for the lads now, we are next in action away to Galmpton on November 14, which will be a very tough game considering the meeting at Crediton only six weeks ago.

Nathan Keast