WE'RE BACK! Another season starts for the "ford" and we travelled to East Devon to face Otterton in our first league match of the new season.

Most of last year's players returning and a few absent through injuries after four pre-season friendlies and holidays.

Nathan Mew filled in between the posts, thank you to him.

Apparently East Devon had heavy rain overnight so a pitch inspection was made and deemed ok for the game.

Sandford won the toss and kicked off and within seconds centre forward Jayden John Mark went close, just missing the target.

The "ford" were the first to settle into the game and on three minutes Shaun Stapleton shot over.

Left-winger Lewis Mooney was a lively player stretching the Otterton defence.

It wasn't until the 14th minute that the home side had their first shot at goal.

Sandford had several chances but couldn't convert any then on 28 minutes a through ball for Otterton split the "ford" defence and a forward slotted the ball past the keeper into the net, 1-0.

Four minutes later a foul by a Sandford player lead to a free kick on the left side from which the resulting kick went over the keeper into the net, 2-0.

Sandford had most of play but couldn't score.

Half-time arrived with the score at 2-0.

The second half started and within seconds Jayden scored from a mistake in Otterton defence, 2-1.

The "ford" were now buzzing, most of the play in the Otterton half and on 55 minutes left-winger Mooney scored to make the score 2-2.

The pressure was beginning to tell on the home side, on 63 minutes Jayden scored his second, 2-3.

Otterton were being caught offside after time by a well marshalled Sandford defence lead by Ben Waller.

On 71 minutes the home side had a free kick on the left wing which was hit through a crowd of players into the net, 3-3.

Was it going to be an away point or could Sandford score again, in the dying minutes Jayden popped up again to make the score 3-4 to Sandford.

A brilliant 3 points away from home and well played to all the squad.

No match next week.

On September 12, Sandford play their first home match of season against Bere Alston in the Intermediate Cup. Please come along and support your local team.

AJH