CREDITON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Peninsula League Division One East

CREDITON UNITED 2

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER 1

ON a moist Saturday afternoon (October 1) Crediton hosted the youthful Exeter University fresh off the back of a heavy freshers fortnight.

Gaffer Trenaman was feeling festive and switched to the classic Christmas tree 3-5-2 formation. Skinner deployed as a sweeper, with McCann and Khoo as wing backs.

Stone came in to replace the injured Morish, whose recent MyProtein order left him skint for the foreseeable future!

Carpenter returned on the bench after a spell on the sidelines, donning a Jamie Vardy-style cast for his broken wrist.

Creddy were looking for a reaction following a poor midweek performance away at Axminster, albeit returning home with a point, but started the game on the back foot once again.

The Uni, playing an expansive attacking style, committed bodies forward at every opportunity. Finally Creddy settled into the game and both sides exchanged chances as the opening goal looked imminent.

Blake was clean through on goal after a defence splitting pass from skipper Lee, but shanked his shot horribly wide.

Durrant and Stone both found themselves in great positions on the by-line but unfortunately their pull backs eluded everyone and the chances came and went.

Tonkin was kept busy as the dangerous Uni laid siege on the Kirton goal and kept firing crosses across the face of the goal but to no avail. Creddy landed the first punch with Durrant finding Blake who slotted home from close range. Creddy held on and went in at the break with a narrow 1-0 lead.

The second half started at a similarly frantic pace and Uni, who must have sweated out their hangovers in the first half, went up through the gears and deservedly found an equaliser on 60 minutes.

An Abbott cross was unfortunately turned into his own net by birthday boy Bilcock and the Uni were in the ascendency.

It was a backs-to-the-wall job for the hosts as the Uni piled forward and looked to take advantage of some weary Kirton legs, especially in the full-back areas.

Barner missed a glorious one-on-one opportunity to put the students ahead. This would prove to be vital. Creddy switched to a 4-4-2 in a bid to stem the flow of attacks and this seemed an inspired change as the introduction of Snow and Carpenter, for Khoo and Durrant, seemed to galvanise Creddy who then started to create chances of their own.

Skinner was however lucky to stay on the pitch after a reckless knee high tackle. With the game destined for a draw Creddy provided some late drama on the counter. In the 85th minute a neat 1-2 between Bilcock and Carpenter sent the latter through on goal and his powerful shot went straight through the hands of the suspect Uni ‘keeper and into the back of the net, to the jubilation of the home crowd.

Creddy held on for a smash and grab three points to maintain there 100 per cent home record this season and stay four points clear at the top.

A great result for the home side against a strong Uni side and a superb response following the disappointing display mid-week.

Dave Lee