After a slow start to the season, Sidmouth Town are gradually creeping up the South-West Peninsula League table. 

The Vikings moved up into 12th spot with a confident 3-1 win over Torrington last weekend and it was fully deserved from the start. Sidmouth exerted early pressure on their visitors and the only surprise was that it took until the half-hour for the deadlock to be broken. 

Jamie Vaughan-Ryall did the donkey work, winning a stonewall penalty, and the ever-reliable Danny Pym made no mistake from the spot. The Vikings were shunted out of their cruise mode by an unexpected Torrington leveller two minutes before the interval. 

Sidmouth regrouped at half-time and continued to control proceedings after the break but were frustrated by some stubborn defending from the visitors. 

The decisive chink in Torrington’s armour finally arrived on 75 minutes, when a low drive from Louis Jagger Cane was blocked on the line and Ash Small was in the right place to force home the rebound. 

This time, there was no way back for Torrington. A sublime first touch and instant pass from Pym was weighted perfectly for man of the match Small to seal the victory. 

Sidmouth turn their attention to the Walter C Parsons Cup this Saturday, with local rivals Honiton Town visiting Manstone Lane for a 3pm kick-off. 

Unfortunately, there was frustration for Sidmouth Town’s reserve sides, as the 2nds bowed out of the Devon Premier Cup with a 2-1 defeat at Newtown and the 3rds lost heavily to Beesands Rovers in the Senior Cup. 

While the Vikings are showing signs of improvement, it continues to be a difficult start to the campaign for Ottery St Mary, as they went down to a 5-2 defeat at North Molton Sports Club. Tony Cox and Charles Smith scored for the Otters but the home side were just too strong on the day. 

Ottery have an important local derby at Feniton this weekend and a win could transform their Devon Football League belief. 

Ottery St Mary Reserves hosted Colyton in the Devon & Exeter League Premier Division on Monday night but went down to a frustrating 3-1 defeat, while the Development side were beaten 3-0 at Bovey Tracey Reserves in the Devon Intermediate Cup.  

Sidmouth Herald: