TWO Crediton Youth Football Club sides recently played fixtures against touring sides visiting the area.

Firstly the Under 12 Cosmos side played against Welsh side Newton Athletic, who play in the Swansea and District League. Newton Athletic had lined up fixtures against two local sides whilst down in Devon.

It had been hoped to play an afternoon game at Lords Meadow. Instead owing to the waterlogged pitches small-sided games had to be played on the astro courts at the leisure centre. Both clubs fielded two seven-a-side teams who played against each other.

Four very close games took place with the Cosmos sides winning three games and drawing one.

Darren Crump, one of Cosmos managers, said: “It was a great afternoon with some very competitive games between two evenly matched clubs.

"Given the recent weather it was just great to be playing football. Newton Athletic were a really great bunch of players and parents.”

Crediton Youth Under 15’s Girls had been approached to play touring Danish side Odder FC.

Odder were on a tour of the West Country and were based at Taunton for their stay. Odder is a town with a population of 11,000 people and players are drawn from four schools from the surrounding area.

Odder had brought a squad of 36 girls on tour so finding a floodlight venue to host a Monday evening event was always going to be a challenge.

Fortunately, the club were offered the opportunity to use the new 4G training pitches at Exeter City’s Cat and Fiddle training ground.

This allowed Odder to field three sides and with both Crediton Youth and the North Devon Girls Development squad both putting out sides, a great evening of football was to take place.

Games between all the sides took place on what can only be described as a cold and wet evening!

The standard of football played was superb, with some very close games.

Crediton Youth drew three games and lost one game 1-0 in stoppage time. The girls thoroughly enjoyed playing against international opposition and the chance to play on the new surface at the Cat and Fiddle.

After the game, all the players and parents made their way to the Heart of Oak at Pinhoe for refreshments and the chance to get to know each other better.

At the end of a great evening, representatives from Odder FC presented the Crediton Youth FC coaches and captain with a pennant and a small gift.

In return the Crediton Youth players presented all the Odder players with a commemorative medal to mark the event.

These medals had kindly been sponsored by Bedford and Co, the Crediton based firm of accountants.

Special thanks must go to everyone who made this such a special evening, especially Chris Haeyns, Manager of the Exeter City Development Centre at Taunton, who co-ordinated arrangements on behalf of Odder FC.

Sean Hartrey from Crediton Youth FC said: "It was a fantastic experience for all our Under 15 squad, with so many social media connections made between the Crediton and Odder players and coaches after the matches.