AFTER weeks on freezing touchlines, fans were grateful for the early spring sunshine on Saturday, warming their faces while the football quickened the pulse.

Sidmouth Town JV U8s 4, Brixington Blues 0Sidmouth Town JV U8s 6, West Hills Wasps 0After weeks on freezing touchlines, fans were grateful for the early spring sunshine on Saturday, warming their faces while the football quickened the pulse.Brixington Blues were much improved from the previous autumn encounter, and early midfield challenges showed a new muscularity in their play. But the Vikings aren't so named for nothing and weren't intimidated. A Becks-style looping punt from halfway nearly gave the Blues an early lead, but first-half keeper Lucas Richardson was alert and stretched to tip the ball over the bar. Viking Jay Harris took a clearance full in the face in an unfortunate friendly-fire incident, but avoided reconstructive surgery on his bloodied nose. Several tissues and cola sweets soon sorted him out.Defenders James Emmett and Toby Garrick fed the dynamic midfield trio of Lucas Richardson, Louis Spalding and Jay Harris, who in turn linked with unstoppable striker Jack Miller. The goals started to come: Miller, Richardson and two from Spalding (one a deflection) sealing a 4-0 win. The tireless Miller was Man of the Match.l After the blood and thunder of the Brixington match, the next was more one-sided. The Wasps swarmed around the ball, but lacked sting in the tackle (sorry), allowing the Warriors space and time to create chances. Josh Allen and Archie Marchant showed composure in unfamiliar roles upfront, both getting on the score-sheet with well-taken goals. A brace from a superb Richardson, a long-range stunner from Emmett and another from Spalding made it 6-0 at full-time. Man of the Match honours deservedly went to Ben Plowden for his unselfish and totally committed midfield play.l Sidmouth: Josh Allen, James Emmett, Toby Garrick, Jay Harris, Archie Marchant, Jack Miller, Ben Plowden, Lucas Richardson, Louis Spalding.