Crediton United 1 - Newton Abbot Spurs 1

TO say this South West Peninsula League East match between Crediton United and Newton Abbot Spurs was not a classic would not be a pushing of the boundaries.

Crediton are getting light on strikers with Harvey Dorothy gone and also no Luke White or Nelson Iseguan in evidence.

Things are starting to feel a little spare, considering the array of talents we had only a few weeks ago.

Leon Tootel started up front with both Sam Stapleton and Louis Stephens very wide.

Nice to see Guy Allum on the bench, a player I was always surprised had left for Tiverton side Elmore at the start of last season.

As you can probably tell I am rambling because I am trying to find something positive to say about the first half of this Peninsula League match but I cannot.

Newton had the better of the opening exchanges and Crediton the latter but that was about it.

If it weren’t for a needless sending off when a Spurs player forgot that walking on an opposition player is an illegal offence it would have been even more dull.

Both sides began the second half in a similar mode but it was Crediton who opened the scoring as Joel Jackson followed up after a corner on the right and poked the ball home for 1-0.

The game started to get more competitive but was still very scrappy and names were taken by the slightly over fastidious referee.

Then substitute Guy Allum missed a glorious opportunity to double the home sides lead but the ball flew wide. After all it was his first touch after coming on.

Almost immediately the same player had a more difficult chance but yet again the ball failed to find the net, and as if it was meant to be, a hoof out of defence eluded the Crediton back line and the Newton Spurs centre forward shot home for what was probably a deserved equaliser, 1-1. 

The 10 men were delighted at this outcome and had no trouble hanging on for a draw which was the right result from where I sat.

Well done lads.

Crediton team: Chalk, Whitfield, Knight, Jackson, Pike, Lee, Bilcock, Tootel, Corrick, Stapleton and Allum.

Man of the match: Joel Jackson.

Paul Whittall