Sidmouth Warriors Under-9s entertained Honiton opposition for their latest Saturday morning action.

The Warriors went into the matches missing regular goalkeeper Haiden Clapp along with Tom Barrett and Dominic Benetar, all three away at PGL Cub Camp.

The young Vikings began well which came as a pleasant surprise for the team coaching staff given the lack of playing time owing to the recent weather!

The ball was passed well and the Warriors dominated possession to such a degree that it was no surprise when Joe Anning broke the deadlock with a superb strike following a lovely through ball from James Plowden.

Young Anning added a second before a superbly struck free-kick saw Honiton halve the deficit.

The goal clearly gave the visitors a big lift and they were level before the break.

Warriors started the second half the way they started the first and were again rewarded for their early endeavours when Anning completed his hat-trick.

That lifted the home side and, with the pace of wide men Reggie Reed and Riley Pugsley, carried a very real threat every time they went forward.

It was no more than they deserved when Puglsey rifled home the fourth with a wonderful strike.

Thanks to the solid defending of Alex Goody and Scott Monroe-Higgs, there was no further scoring opportunities for the opposition and two more Anning goals – taking him to five – rounded of a very satisfactory 6-2 success for Warriors.

Next up, against Honiton Lacers, the game began with both teams looking to attack at ever opportunity.

It was Lacers who struck first, but the Warriors have plenty of character in their team this year and they were soon back passing the ball well and parity was restored when Sidney Ridgway received the ball in the box and with his back to goal, turned, and buried the ball into the back of the net!

It was a superb goal and one that seemed to change the flow of the game for Warriors were soon into a new gear. Anning notched a quick-fire double and Warriors took a 3-1 lead into the break.

The second half saw more of the same with Warriors the dominant force.

Once again the work rate of midfield dynamo James Plowden was outstanding and his supreme efforts were rewarded with a goal to make it 4-1.

To round off a superb morning for himself – and the team – young Anning scored again to seal a second hat-trick of the day.

Coach Bryn Clapp said: “That was two exceptional performance. They were all the more special given the lack of recent playing time any of these lads have seen.”