Sidmouth Town 0 – Budleigh Salterton 3

Carlsberg SWPL Division 1 East Friday 26th December

Two goals from Jack Greenslade helped the visitors to a comfortable win in this local derby.

Despite the final score line it was the Vikings that nearly took the lead in the 25th minute when Ashley Small rolled his marker and struck a clean strike from twelve yards that hit the inside of the post then rebounded off Alan Doble in goal and went out for a corner.

Both sets of players struggled with the playing conditions in a fairly evenly contested first half.   But it was the visitors that  marginally adjusted better to the muddy surface and deserved to score the first goal of the game that came a minute from halftime when teenager Aaron Denny tapped in from close range after some good work from Danny Williams.  0-1

Halftime 0-1

The home supporters and management were expecting a much improved performance from the Vikings in the second half.  There was a lot of ‘huffing and puffing’ but the Vikings could not find the much needed additional quality to gain the upper hand on their local rivals and it was no surprise when Budleigh scored their second on the 75th minute, this time the impressive Greenslade crossed from the left wing which found the unmarked Hugo Demetre and left the player with an easy finish.  0-2

The third and final goal came on the 86th minute, Greenslade scored his second after beating the offside trap and then skipped passed left back Tony Cox and calmly placed past keeper Robbie Powell.  0-3

 Final Score 0-3

Sidmouth From: Powell, Cox, Raistrick, Newbery, Pidgeon, Pitter, Armes, Pavey, Kana’ah, Thompson (C)) & Small Used Subs: Ogley & Miller

Star man

Jamie Newbery

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Axminster Town 3 – Sidmouth Town 6

Carlsberg SWPL Division 1 East Saturday 20th December

Sidmouth were determined to pick up their first maximum points away from home this season and welcomed back Alex Raistrick & Adam Kana’ah to the side.The visitors were awarded an early gift when Andrew Thomson who was wearing the captains armband for the day, whipped in a dangerous free kick from 25 yards out, the under pressure Mark Smale headed passed his own keeper Mike Knight thus giving the Vikings a third minute lead 0-1.  Things got worse for the tigers, and on the 15^th minute Mark Pavey delivered a perfect cross for the unmarked Thomson to head home 0-2. Axminster must have been fearing the worse however on the 30^th minute, a Gary MCauley free kick from 20 yards out flew into the top right hand corner of the goal to give Axminster some hope 1-2.  On the 40^th minute Axminster levelled, Callum Garrett and Gary Warren doubled up on the left wing which exposed Sidmouth’s right backMike Pidgeon, Warren was soon to find himself in acres of space and delightfully curled a shot with the outside of his left foot that gave Ledger in the Vikings goal no chance.  2-2

Half time 2-2

Sidmouth restarted the half with instructions to raise the tempo and improve their passing quality.  And it took ten minutes for them to regain the lead, this time Thomson turned provider chipping a ball forward for Kana’ah to head exquisitely home 2-3.  The remainder of the game was dominated by Sidmouth and was pretty much one way traffic with Thomson running the game and scoring an additional three goals.  Axminster managed to salvage a little bit of pride when Gary Knight scored with the last kick of the game.

Final Score 3-6

Star Man

Andrew Thomson

Sidmouth From: Ledger, Cox, Raistrick, Newbery, Pidgeon, Thompson (C), Pitter, Kana’ah, Pavey, Small & Boyland.  Used Subs: Ogley, Stamp & Dixon Unused: Powell

 

Plymstock United 3 – Sidmouth Town 0

Carlsberg SWPL Division 1 East Saturday 13th December

Sidmouth came flying out of the traps and should have scored at least two goals inside the first fifteen minutes of the game, Mark Pavey & Ashley Small missing glorious chances early on.  Plymstock looked a little shell shocked as the visitors were creating chances almost at will.  The home side rode their luck and on the half hour started to regain composure and went about trying to make the Vikings pay for not having taken advantage of their earlier dominance.  Centre backs Jamie Newbery & Mike Pidgeon were put under some serious pressure but stood up well, but also needed Charlie Ledger in goal to be at his best.  Ledger pulling off a couple of terrific saves to keep the game level.

Halftime 0-0

Sidmouth bossed the first twenty minutes of the second half but it was Plymstock who had the ball in the net only for it to be ruled out for offside.  Literally a couple of minutes after, Sidmouth had the ball in the net Plymstock’s  former Devon County youth team goal keeper Ryan Rickard dived low to his left and palmed a shot onto Sidmouth’s Josh French the ball rebounded into the goal, but was also ruled offside.

Both teams had a right good go at each other with both goal keepers keeping the respective team in the game.  On the 70th minute the chance of the game fell to Sidmouth’s Ashley Small, Small was sent clear with just Rickard to beat, but the striker rushed his shot which enabled Rickard to make any easy save.

Both teams looked like they had settled for the draw but on the 75th minute Plymstock’s Craig Follett found some room wide left and crossed a delightful ball into the area that seemed to evade everyone other than the home sides Ricky Harris who scored with pretty much his first touch of the game having just entered the field of play 0-1.  On the 85th minute Sidmouth’s Damien Armes (on his debut) made a rash challenge inside the area on Ryan Knight and referee awarded the spot kick.  Ryan Yeoman blasted the kick passed Ledger 0-2.  In stoppage time Plymstock’s Dave Evans delivered a corner into the box of which the impressive Peter Styring powerfully headed home.

A mention must go to the official’s who ran the game very professionally.

Final Score 0-3

Sidmouth From: Ledger, Cox, Pidgeon, Newbery, Gingell, Pitter, French(C), Armes, Small, Pavey, Hill.  Used Subs: Colson & Dixon.

Star Man

Mike Pidgeon

Sidmouth Town 3rds 2 Ottery St Mary 2nds 1

Fresha Devon & Exeter League Div 8 Saturday 6th December

In perfect conditions for football Sidmouth 3rds hosted Ottery Reserves with
none of the last minute disruptions which had so badly affected preparations
for their previous home game against Culm. So Sidmouth were able to field a
strong and properly organised starting 11. And for the first 20 minutes that
really showed as Sidmouth took an early stranglehold on the game.
Some of Sidmouth’s football in the first 20 minutes was a joy to behold.
They passed and moved and dominated the possession and early chances. But
their Achilles heel all season has been an inability to convert good
possession into goals. And that was the case here as some excellent early
chances went begging. Just as an afternoon of frustration beckoned Sidmouth won a free kick in the Ottery half. James Hiscox launched the ball perfectly into the box and Arnie Onaki rose highest to head past the Ottery keeper. The visitors were soon on level terms with what was effectively their first
attempt on target. But for the away fans that first attempt was well worth
the wait with the Ottery right winger deftly chipping the Sidmouth keeper
with a really impressive piece of skill.

After that the game was really finely balanced and could easily have gone
either way. Good chances were made and wasted at both ends as both keepers
made impressive saves. But Sidmouth won a corner and that combination of
Hiscox and Onaki did the trick again. A beautifully flighted cross and a
powerful header from Onaki giving the Ottery keeper no chance.

Ottery pressed for another equaliser but Sidmouth hung on to seal a victory
that was probably just about justified on the basis of their early dominance.
Despite some really good performances from Adam Bartlett, Ollie Pinnock and
Sam Marriott there could really only be one man of the match. Arnie Onaki
had begrudgingly slotted in at centre half. He had defended well all game
and crowned that performance with 2 fine goals.

This Saturday brings another home game at Sidford & Sidmouth will hope to
continue their recent good form with a victory over Sandford.

Liverton Utd 2 Sidmouth Town 2

Carlsberg SWPL Division 1 East Saturday 6th December

Sidmouth made changes to the squad as they went to Liverton in search of maximum points.  Manager Josh Stunell gave first starts of the season to Riki Pitter and Nick Gingell. The Sidmouth management team hadn’t even had time to put the medical bag down inside the dugout such was the quickness of the opening goal, Liverton played three passes and then placed a long ball in behind left back Tony Cox who’s starting position was extremely naïve. Liverton’s Mike Turner raced through and placed his shot passed the livid Charlie Ledger in the Sidmouth goal. 1-0.  Liverton continued to press and soon found themselves two goals to the good this time Turner picked up the ball wide left and curled an audacious effort from 30 yards into the top right hand corner of Ledger’s goal.  2-0. Sidmouth deserved some real credit as by the 25th minute they started to dictate play with the midfield of Pitter, Doble & French controlling the game, and it was no surprise when they scored on the 35th minute Mark Pavey being sent clear by Ash Small’s delightful through ball 2-1.  Sidmouth finished the second half on top and could sense another comeback.

Halftime 1-2

Straight from the kick off Sidmouth should have scored Pavey raced down the right wing and crossed to the unmarked Small, however the former Sidbury Utd forward shot wide with just the keeper to beat.  Sidmouth kept pressing for the equaliser and this arrived on the 65th minute when left back Cox ran onto a through ball and then unleashed an unstoppable shot from at least 30 yards out that flew into the top right hand corner of the goal 2-2.  Sidmouth were completely on top with French, Small, Pavey and Isaacs all having glorious chances to score.  Having missed so many chances to wrap the game up they were nearly left to pay the price from wasteful finishing when Ollie Aplin raced clear and only a terrific save from Ledger prevented Liverton stealing all three points with what would have been their only shot of the second half. Sidmouth continued to ask the Liverton backline questions, but could not find the finish to match the outstanding build up play.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A great comeback but the Vikings will be disappointed not have taken all three points.

Final Score 2-2

Sidmouth From: Ledger, Cox, Newbery, Pidgeon, Gingell, Pavey, French (C), Small, Pitter, Doble & Thompson.  Used Subs: Boyland, Isaac & Ogley

Star man

Riki Pitter

Culm United 1 Sidmouth Town Reserves 3

Fresha Devon & Exeter League Div 2 Saturday 29th November

Following the previous weeks home postponement against Culm Utd, Town’s second team travelled to Uffculme to play the reverse fixture. There was a heavy air that hung over Magelake Park that matched the heavy underfoot conditions. Both sides struggled to play any football in the opening quarter but just as the visitors appeared to be getting to grips with the conditions, the home side took the lead. A series of throw-ins into the Vikings box saw Culm’s striker head goalwards and deflect past Sidmouth’s stranded keeper Dec Lines. Rocked by the goal the visitors nearly conceded again but for the quick reaction of Lines saving with his feet. Town then got their act together and started to dominate possession culminating in a few half-chances and a stonewall penalty denied by the official. The Vikings restored parity when the ball was fed into leading marksman Rikki Pitter who tried to turn left then right before unleashing an unstoppable shot.With the gathering momentum Sidmouth attacked at will and five minutes before time the ball was squared across the area for Mark Burdus to sweep home from the edge of the box, opening his account for the season.

The second half saw Town start as lethargically as the opening period and the back four were called upon to defend in numbers and stand firm against the home onslaught. When the Vikings regained their composure they played a sensible team game, turning the opposition full-backs and working the ball in the wider areas waiting for the right opportunity to deliver. All of the visiting side were now working hard for each other and when Darren Thomas played the ball into the feet of Pitter, he repeated the trick of the first half twisting and turning before executing another fine strike to effectively seal the game. The rear-guard saw out the remaining time with no alarms to record another solid away win. Another tremendous collective effort from a group now understanding the value of playing for each other. Tim Lister provided boundless energy and was a constant threat and Nick Gingell, whilst solid and commanding in defence, showed great vision and intelligence in his distribution going forward. However Man of the Match honours deservedly went to Pitter for his match-winning goals and all-round performance. The Vikings stay on the road as they play Newtown 2nds this coming Saturday