Exwick Villa 4, Sidmouth Town 2 The Vikings gave table-topping Villa an all-mighty scare before slipping to defeat in a thrilling South West Peninsula League Eastern Division game in Exeter.

Town began the game in confident mode and chances were created at both ends of the pitch before the hosts were awarded a penalty.

Luke Ashford, who has been in great form this season, leapt to his right to turn the powerfully struck spot kick away. Galvanized by the save Town pressed forward and the lively Tony Cox volleyed the ball over the home keepers head to fire Town into the lead.

With pace and industry on display Town were good value for the lead and they doubled their advantage Andy Isaacs struck a sweet volley from the edge of the area that gave the home gloves man no chance.

Dan Norman was then upended when a slick Town raid had worked them into a three-on-one situation, but strangely the match official decided against allowing the advantage and the home side survived going three down!

Just before the break the home side halved the deficit and Town went into the break 2-1 to the good.

The start of the second half saw the Vikings make a disappointing start and, within ten minutes of the restart their 2-1 lead had gone and they trailed by the odd goal in five!

To their credit the Vikings regrouped, but, despite fashioning some gilt-edged chances to take something from the game, they could, not fashion a third goal.

It was in the closing seconds that the hosts added a fourth with a breakaway goal.

Town boss Paddy Thomas said: “We knew it was going to be tough as they are a good side. They are well organised and dangerous going forward, but we caused them problems and can certainly take a number of positives from our performance. For a fifteen minute period either side of half-time we were guilty of poor defending. We switched off and they (Exwick Villa) took full advantage. However, on the plus side for me the team has set a standard now with the most part of this performance the players have a chance to right the wrongs on Saturday at Manstone Lane when we host the same side.”

That meeting tomorrow is in the second round of the Graddon Vending Devon Premier Cup and kick-off is at 2pm.