Following a disappointing result the previous week against Bridgwater, Sidmouth started the day eight points off top of the league and in desperate need to get back on track with a win against a young university side.

Knowing fitness and rotation was a key ingredient to overcoming such a young side, captain Ian Brown decided to select a full squad of 13 players for the first time this season.

Knowing a fast start was essential, Sidmouth started the stronger of the two sides and should have been ahead after a couple of well worked short corner routines. Sidmouth’s dominance did eventually pay off and took the lead midway through the first half, after a well controlled finish from newly converted front man Daniel Devine, following a mix up in the university defence.

After a couple of interesting positional changes, Sidmouth found themselves on the back foot and eventually conceded just before half time after a well worked short corner.

After the break Sidmouth came out much the stronger side and were soon pushing to regain the lead. With the youth and inexperience of the university starting to show, they were soon reduced to 9 players after a couple of badly timed stick tackles.

With Sidmouth sensing the game was there for the taking and subsequently committing more players forward there was always the chance of the counter attack from the opposition.

With pace and experience were defensively there in abundance, this didn’t deter Sidmouth from pushing for the win. They were eventually rewarded around 10 minutes from the end following a well worked training ground routine starting with Scott Barry Rowsen and resulting in a well executed flick over the oncoming goalkeeper from veteran Graham Pidgeon.

Quickly reverting from a very attacking style of play to their more favoured defensive formation, Sidmouth comfortably held on for victory to record their first win of the season and lift themselves up the table.

Sidmouth next face a tough match away to bottom of the league East Devon, knowing a win would be a great way to kick start their promotion push.

Mid Somerset 6 Sidmouth 2nd XI 1

A FRAUGHT journey to Wells did not put Sidmouth in the ideal frame of mind and, with no time for a meaningful warm-up, it was predictable that they were caught cold in the opening minute to go one down, writes John Goodwin.

The home side showed great mobility to regularly out-manoeuvre Sidmouth and they had soon built up a 3-0 lead.

Sidmouth then threatened a comeback, sparked by Jon Pike being sent clear by Ian Mackie and flicking the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.

Pike followed up with three penetrative runs down the right and crosses to Sam Cole, but each time his shot was dealt with by the goalkeeper.

Sidmouth were regularly grateful for Ian Please’s timely tackles and speedy charging down of short corners so it was harsh on him when a deflection off his stick saw a shot zoom into the roof of the net in the second half.

More ill fortune followed when Nick Wright made a saving tackle near the goal line, but was unable to swivel round and clear the ball, allowing the attacker to poke a stick around the post from behind the goal to touch the ball home.

Sidmouth thought they had gained a consolation when Pike, again causing havoc on the right flank, crossed for Cole to tap home. The umpire ruled Pike had taken the ball out of play, however.

A sixth goal for the home side made it a sobering trip to the cider county for Sidmouth.