ON Saturday, April 15, on a lovely spring afternoon, Sandford First team entertained Ottery St Mary Seconds at the George V Playing Field in a bid to pick up some much needed points.

Having beaten them away earlier in season this was a chance for the "ford" to do the double over them.

The match kicked off on a pitch that had dried out a lot from the previous day.

After one-and-a-half minutes, left winger Darren Hughes had a right footed shot saved.

Then a minute later, Ottery went close with a shot wide.

Next, Sam Reeves in midfield, saw his shot fly over the crossbar.

At 12 minutes in our tricky right winger Tudor Morgan-Huggett was brought down in the box and Sam Reeves stepped up and placed the penalty into the corner of the Ottery net to make it 1-0.

With the two young lads, Danny Carroll and Jack Perry playing in midfield with Sam Reeves, Sandford were beginning to look a more complete unit.

On 17 minutes Ottery levelled the scores with a header, 1-1.

In between our keeper Matt Parsell made a finger tip save onto the bar and over.

On 29 minutes Sandford regained the lead when Jack Perry hit a left footed cross for Darren to head in, 2-1.

As half-time approached Danny Carroll took a corner and with Steven Dymond making a nuisance of himself at the near post, the ball  went straight in, 3-1 to the "ford".

After half-time, on 52 minutes, Darren was again sent away towards the Ottery goal when he was brought down.  Penalty, not according to the ref.

On 62 minutes Darren had a header saved and on 65 minutes a speculative shot across the Ottery goal nearly caught their keeper out. 

With the home defence playing with a lot of confidence the midfield and forwards kept mixing it with the away defence who, I think, had brought in some of the higher league players.

Then on 77 minutes, a free kick to Ottery went straight in.

A nervous 20 minutes to the end saw the game swing end-to-end before, on 81 minutes, a scramble in the Ottery goalmouth led to Darren Hughes scoring his third of the afternoon.

And that's how the game finished, 4-2 to the "ford".

A much welcomed three points and a big well done to all the players, it was a really enjoyable match to watch. 

This weekend the First team is home to Sidmouth Seconds, KO 3pm. 

Unfortunately due to weather the Second team's match against City Raiders was called off.

On Saturday they are away to Upottery Seconds, KO 3pm. Good luck to both teams.

AJH