Sidbury United boss Jeremy Schofield was delighted with his side’s first ever Fresha league Premier Division outing.

United were denied a winning start to life in the top flight by the width of the bar and upright, struck three times by United players in the game!

In a well contested first half the best of the chances fell to the lively Willand central strike who drew a superb save by United glovesman Jamie Harvey.

In the first half Harvey was given excellent protection by then organised back three unit of Dan McCann, Glen Salter and skipper and Man of the Match Sam Seldon.

It was 18-year-old Connor Hannaford who came closest to breaking the deadlock when his cracking shot was touched onto the bar by the Willand goal keeper.

After the break the action was all towards the Willand goal as United sought the goal their performance deserved. Spencer Lane and Hannaford both struck the frame of the goal as did Luke Barker who had come on twenty minutes before to make his Sidbury debut.

Schofield said: “That was a wonderful way for us to announce out arrival in the top flight. The players, to a man, could not have given me more and had we won by three or four clear goals I don’t think too many would have felt that unjustified. The quality of their strikers surprised me. However, based on what we produced in this game, if we can find a consistent level of similar performance then we will be a match for any side at this level.”

Saturday sees United again at home when they entertain a Tiverton Town Reserve side who are many people’s tip to land the title.

Schofield says: “It’ll be a great test for us and give us a real yardstick as to just what the top sides have at this level.”

Central defender Glen Salter will miss the rest of the season after further damaging a shoulder last week, but Schofield can call on the services of Rumanian Continti Rusu and Richard Bacon, both of whom were not involved against Willand.