CREDITON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Peninsula League Division One East

STOKE GABRIEL 4

CREDITON UNITED 1

THE hosts came into this game, on Saturday, August 27, needing to put right the home defeat to Brixham in mid-week and both teams started a bit nervous of each other and wary of making mistakes.

Crediton kicked off but it was Stoke Gabriel who created the first chance as Olly Critchlow played a nice ball through to Dean Stevens whose crisp shot brought a fine save from Fred Tonkin in the Crediton goal.

Further chances came the way of Stoke firstly, just four minutes later, when Josh Webber went on a jinking run into the box on the left to see Tonkin again save at the expense of a corner. From the corner Lewis Woodmore headed over the bar.

Just six minutes later and Dean Stevens tried his luck with a long shot from 25 yards just wide of the post. Jordan Hopkins then received a long ball, controlled it well and brought another fine save from the visitors ‘keeper.

On 24 minutes Crediton had their first chance of the game when a slip in the Stoke defence let in Richard Blake who saw his shot saved by Scott Corderoy from point blank range. Straight down the other end he met a long throw with his head to see his goal-ward bound header superbly tipped over by Fred Tonkin.

It was beginning to look like the same old problem for Stoke with plenty of chances but no goal when on the half-hour Tom Kelly hit a hopeful cross in from the left which, to his and most others amazement, flew over everyone and found the far corner of the net to give Stoke the lead.

The rest of the half drifted to a close with just one more chance at the death when after a one-two between Jordan Hopkins and Tom Kelly, Josh Webber put a near post effort just wide.

The start of the second half caught many of the crowd by surprise as within three minutes 1-0 had become 3-0 to Stoke. It took precisely one minute 17 seconds for Olly Critchlow to play a through ball for Josh Webber to slide in at the far post.

Just two minutes later and Josh Weber pulled a ball back for Dean Stevens to hit a half volley not as clean as he would have wanted but it deceived Tonkin in the Crediton goal and sneaked in for 3-0.

Perhaps Stoke could be accused of easing off shortly after as sleepy defending in the box after just eight minutes of the second half saw Steve Goss head in from close range for the visitors.

After such a fast start to the half it had to slow down and it did as it took another 15 minutes for the next chance to come along as Dean Stevens chipped over the defence for Ollie Booth to round the ‘keeper only for his attempt to be cleared off the line for a corner by the Crediton defence.

The game then petered out somewhat as both sides passed around without really creating anything until deep into stoppage time when Olly Critchlow beat the Crediton backline and proceeded to expertly lob the ‘keeper for Stoke’s fourth and final goal of the afternoon.

Three well-deserved points for Stoke make up for the previous game’s defeat.

Nathan Keast