Sidmouth Warriors Under-13s were 3-2 winners when they entertained Central in an Exeter Youth League game.

With Central sitting second in the table it was always going to be a close encounter for a Warriors outfit who have been in good form this season.

In what were dreadful weather conditions, Warriors started brightly and, during their early dominance a cross into the area found Ryan Barnes who cleverly generated space for the advancing Ben Elsom, who drilled the ball home.

With the pairing of Christian Pinnock and Thomas Nicholls controlling the midfield, it wasn’t long before a great through-ball allowed Michael Bielawski to run at the keeper and bravely poke the ball home to make it 2-0.

Central tried to hit back, but got little change out of the excellent Jake Paget in the Warriors defence, who made sure that Warriors glovesman Callum French was a virtual spectator for much of the first half.

As the half wore on Pinnock created himself sufficient space to curl a delightful shot into the net to make it 3-0 and Warriors would have hit the break with an even bigger lead had a Will Pulman strike not been superbly saved by the Central goalkeeper.

After the break Central made a powerful start and, as the rain increased, so did the visitors attacking intent.

The pressure told and they got a goal back. That lifted the visitors and, from a well-worked free-kick, they scored a second.

Once pegged back to juts a single goal lead, Warriors found another gear and, with Nicholls seizing control of midfield and Ben Elsom serving up a Man of the Match performance on the left, the home side were able to close the game out with a measure of control.

They did get a late fourth, with Bielawski netting, only for the ‘goal’ to be chalked off for off-side.