For the third week in a row, Sidmouth Town had to settle for less points than they deserved, as they played out an eight-goal thriller with Brixham at Manstone Lane. 

Liam Carey returned to the starting 11 and was immediately involved when he slipped through Louis Jagger Cane, who raced clear, only to be pulled back by a dubious offside flag. 

Brixham then attacked the Vikings and forced a couple of good blocks after some neat play from their forward players. From the start, it was evident that both sides were going to get right at each other and try to outscore their opponents. 

More Brixham pressure came, and Jacob O’Callaghan was forced into a stunning save when he tipped the ball on to the post, as the visitors pushed for the opener. Instead, it came at the other end in the 32nd minute.  

Cane flicked on a pass to Nathan Cooper, who lifted the ball over Grant Fisher in the Brixham goal and the latter clattered into him, giving the referee no option but to point to the spot. Danny Pym stepped up and hammered the ball home.  

Sidmouth then doubled the lead five minutes later, when a quick throw in from Charlie Cox found Cane, who skipped past his defender before cutting back to Cooper. His shot was saved but Pym was on hand to hit home his second. Brixham tried to get back in the game but were once again denied by some stellar defending from the Vikings’ backline.  

Whatever was said in the Brixham changing room at half-time worked a treat, as 10 seconds into the second period, they pulled a goal back when Kieran Parkin turned magically in the box before striking the ball past a helpless O'Callaghan.  

Brixham really turned on the pressure but the Vikings stood strong and withheld wave after wave of pressure. Gaps began to appear in the Brixham backline and Cane broke through one-on-one. 

As he approached the box, he slowed up and tried to beat the defender when he should have shot, but the chance was gone. Sidmouth continued to push and were rewarded when Carey nicked the ball and played a perfect pass to Cooper, who was hacked down by Ryan Beattie and the ref again pointed to the spot. Pym, once again, stepped up as cool as you like to complete his hat-trick (his 10th goal of the season), as well as extending the lead to 3-1.  

Unfortunately, the two-goal advantage lasted just a few minutes, as Brixham scored a quickfire double to make it 3-3 and bring the contest level. Scott Robinson headed home a corner and then a mistake from Cooper allowed Robinson through on goal, his effort was turned in by Parkin to level proceedings.  

Brixham were in the ascendency now and Sidmouth were holding on, thanks to some more excellent goalkeeping from O'Callaghan. The match looked set for a draw but, with five minutes remaining, Cane was played through by Pym but was somehow flagged offside when he was clearly 2/3 yards onside.  

The resulting free-kick was hurled forward and Matt Salter was adjudged to have handled the ball. Despite the protests from all in the Sidmouth camp, a penalty was given. Danny Gaze made no mistake from 12 yards as Brixham went ahead for the first time in the match. 

The drama wasn't over though and Cane won a free kick in the 93rd minute. Pym delivered the perfect cross, which was expertly headed home by Will Jenkins to spark wild celebrations and secure a point for The Vikings. 

A thrilling contest for all to see at Manstone Lane came to a close in freezing temperatures when the referee blew the whistle with score ending 4-4. Well played to both sides 

The Sidmouth Spar Man of the Match was awarded to Danny Pym (sponsored by Harrison Lavers & Potbury's).