Elmore 8, Newton Poppleford 0 Newton Poppleford put in a resilient performance despite going down 8-0 to promotion hopefuls Elmore, writes Jordan Cooper.
Newton Pop, playing their first ever game in Division One, made the trip to Tiverton with just 12 players after an off-season of managerial and personnel changes.
They were a whisker away from scoring the first goal of the game when Matt Tett nodded home a free-kick inside half an hour only to see the linesman on the far side raise his flag for offside!
As the score line suggests, the hosts controlled the majority of the game, but did not take the lead until the 35th minute when Newton Pop’s backline was finally breached.
Two more goals followed before the interval and the second half became a case of damage limitation for Newton Pop.
Fitness levels started to show in the Newton Pop ranks and Elmore controlled the second half on their way to a resounding victory.
The Popples will take some positives from their first half showing and will hope that their opening day result is not a sign of things to come this season.
On Wednesday they travelled to East Budleigh and tomorrow (Saturday) they face a third straight away game at Bickleigh.
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