CREDITON UNITED 3 - STOKE GABRIEL 5

This was a game of contrasts. Stoke arrived at Lord’s Meadow in good form and Crediton short of senior players had equipped themselves well in the last few games.

Although wins had been few lately, results were close and the young lads deserve great credit for the way in which they had applied themselves.

In this game they started well and only a goal line clearance stopped the home side from opening the scoring.

In fact in the 10th minute that was exactly what they did as from a corner on the right Max Burnham’s header gave the goalie no chance and it was 1-0 to Kirton.

This was Crediton’s best period of the match and they nearly made it two as Joe Southcott had a good chance but his effort was saved.

Then just before the break there was drama as the referee was injured and could not continue.

There was a lengthy delay and when play did start it only took the away side a brief moment before they equalised.

The teams went in at half time all square, 1-1.

The second half was only three minutes old when Stoke took the lead through a near post finish and if it were not for Lewis Layton making a tiptop double save the lead would have increased.

In 68 minutes it was 1-3 as Stoke started to move through the gears. A header made the score 1-4 as Stoke threatened to completely take over but it was not to be and through the softest of own goals.

Crediton pulled one back as what looked like a simple header back to the goalie ended up nestling in the net, 2-4.

Then, it was Gossy who got his name on the scoresheet as he unleashed an absolute thunderbolt from way out and it flew into the top left corner.

In fact it was identical to one he had scored earlier in the season.

The score was now 3-4 with around 10 minutes left.

This was as good as it got and Stoke were able to add a fifth just before the end, 3-5.

At one point it looked as though the comeback was happening but in all fairness Stoke Gabriel deserved their win but hats off to the young Crediton lads who tried their best against a much stronger outfit.

Crediton team: Layton, Wojtowicz, Gething, Graham-Ahearn, Goss, Shaw, Jordan, Allum, Grech, Burnham, Southcott. Sub: Snow.

Man of the match: Lewis Layton.

FLOODLIGHTS FAILURE

On Tuesday, April 14, Crediton entertained Teignmouth in a rearranged match but before the start there was obviously a problem with the floodlights.

About a quarter were not working.

The game started five minutes late as the referee made the bizarre attempt to have a game when it was clear to all that there was no way the game would get any further than half time when we would be thrown into darkness.

The players geed themselves up to play and although Crediton battled well and were the more ambitious of the sides the score was 0-0 when everyone trundled in at half time. After a brief interval the Crediton lads trotted out to continue their ambitions but after a pause the game was abandoned.

Crediton team: Layton, Shaw, Gething, Graham-Ahearn, Butterfield, Allum, Drew, Goss, Harris, Burnham, Southcott.

Paul Whittall