Sidmouth Raiders U13s enjoyed an 8-0 victory in their match against Colyton U13 Rebels on Saturday.

It’s been a long time since Sidmouth U13 Raiders have enjoyed a game like this!

Raiders oozed quality from kick-off until the final whistle – moving the ball easily around the dazed Colyton team as if it were a training exercise.

Having already spurned an early opportunity, the impressive Elliot Anning opened the scoring on eight minutes.

Levi Johnson was heavily involved in the early exchanges; Colyton just couldn’t harness his skilful, tireless wingplay on the left. Had Sidmouth relaxed a bit more in front of goal, the scoreline could have actually been even more emphatic.

Soren Hall added a second on 20 minutes – third time lucky - having already blasted one off target and having so nearly scored a delightful lob.

Levi Johnson was finally rewarded for his excellent display with a glorious goal. Running in from the wing, his neat pass to Anning in the box was returned to him with a cheeky back heel, which Johnson curled coolly into the bottom right hand corner of the net – just beyond the keeper’s reach.

Anning added his second shortly before the break.

With Sidmouth cruising, a deal was made to allow ‘the best keeper in the league’ – Thomas Craig – into the outfield for part of the second half. He was to be replaced by centre back Fin Hobday – on the basis that Fin be allowed to play up front for the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Hobday made the most of his chance in the limelight, scoring Sidmouth’s 5th. Crazy celebrations followed, before Fin took his place in goal.

It seemed that every break could result in a goal. Anning completed his hat-trick by dribbling all the way from the halfway line before finding the net, again!

Sealing his man-of-the-match performance, Zac Birkhead scored his first goal for the club. He had been solid in several positions throughout the game, controlled in his passing, excellent in his support play, and speedy in attack up the wing.

Goalkeeper Thomas Craig was so close to getting a goal in his rare appearance upfield – at one point even trying to score with a back-heel!

But the victory came with another goal from 4-goal-hero Elliot Anning.

The whole team deserve credit for this huge victory after several games where the results haven’t reflected the quality of the play. Coach Dave Johnson wasn’t getting carried away though, warning that future opposition won’t be as easy as in this match.