Seaton Town exacted revenge for their pre-Christmas derby 2-0 defeat to Beer Albion when they beat the Fishermen by the same score in front of a crowd of 300 at Colyford Road, writes Steve Birley.

The fact the game took place at all was down to the collective efforts on the pitch by the Seaton Town committee and some brinkmanship by boss Josh Stunell who explained saying: “The surface was solid at 10am, and the general consensus was that the game would not be played.

“I asked everybody to give it a couple of hours. As it was a derby there was not a lot of travelling involved for the visiting team and I felt confident that a thaw would kick-in. We agreed to look again at noon and found then that the thaw was well on the way. By the time the officials arrived the surface was even better and they deemed it playable.”

The game itself was good on the eye, with both teams contributing much to a typically close encounter. With half time looming and neither defence breached, the ball fell to Ben Ede some 25-yards from goal. Ede controlled it before striking a superb shot that flew into the net.

Beer, who had enjoyed the greater possession for the opening 25 minutes, began the second half well, but the Town back line, and keeper Dave Perham, stood up to everything that was thrown at them. Midway through the second half the second and decisive goal arrived when Cameron Vere who, along with Ede, had missed a glorious opportunity earlier in the contest, scored with a far post header.

Stunell said: “Beer played their part, but for me the difference was that we had the added quality and better finishing.”

Beer boss Phil Crabb said: “To be honest I am disappointed we have not emerged with something from the game. I thought we played well and I can’t fault any of my players for the contributions they made. The difference for me was the clinical finishing Seaton showed.”

?On Saturday, Beer are home at Furzebrake against East Budleigh. Crabb said: “We have to win this next one as I don’t want to be dragged any closer to the clubs at the foot of the table.”

and Stunell says: “We need to keep winning and then, if another team does overhaul us by winning all their remaining games, then good luck to them!”

?For Beer it’s a Furzebrake game against East Budleigh on Saturday of which Crabb says: “We have to win this next one as I don’t want us being dragged any closer to that cluster of clubs at the foot of the table.”