South West Peninsula League Division East

CREDITON 4

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER 6

THE eventual score-line flattered Crediton as they were well-beaten by the students at Lords Meadow last Saturday.

A late fight back in which they scored three goals in 10 minutes did not hide the defensive frailties as the students free-flowing football was a class above.

If the home side continue with their policy of "gung-ho" defending this will not get better as the 8-0 drubbing by Budleigh proved.

A back four (if four it is supposed to be) needs to stay in some sort of line and you had sympathy with Josh Kite who clearly did not come up to scratch as a makeshift right back.

When the students attacked both full-backs were caught out of position several times and in truth it could have been 10.

But how promisingly the game started with man of the match, Richard Blake, scoring a beauty as he ran on to a through ball drawing the 'keeper before unleashing an unstoppable shot.

The students soon got their passing game together though and by half-time were 4-1 up.

The defending was a shambles apart from the excellent Scott Boardman and the midfield with new boy, Luke Sutton, alongside Perry Carpenter could not prevent the away side from running riot.

It was three goals mid-way through the half which did the damage.

Firstly Pete Beadle and then Josh Higgins scored and then two from Myles Blenkinsop put the students well in command.

The tireless running of Kenny Ord for once did not bear fruit and although Richard Blake covered every inch of that pitch searching for a formula the Uni were just too good for the home side.

In the second half it did not improve and Alex Funnell soon made it five.

When Blenkinsop scored his third of the game it looked pretty desperate for Crediton.

The students also hit the bar and the post as Crediton struggled to maintain a foothold and in all honesty you feared for the home side as the battle became untenable as the game went on.

Three goals at the end did flatter Crediton as a Perry Carpenter penalty and then a superb free kick from the same player caught the 'keeper napping.

A good finish from Kenny Ord from a sublime pass from Richard Blake made the final score 4-6, Crediton now having conceded 14 goals in two games.

This is a great shame because the lads' form had been great for a few weeks prior to this with three wins on the bounce.

However, with Kenny Ord prolific up front and players of the calibre of Perry Carpenter, Scott Boardman and Lloyd Copp in the side, Crediton will turn it round again like they did earlier in the season I am sure.

PW