Colaton Raleigh FC 3, Seaton Town FC 2

Seaton Challenge Cup Final

Colaton Raleigh players partied long into the night last Saturday, after their astonishing win against top Premier Division team Seaton Town, in their own backyard, writes Ken Woodsford.

This was a thrilling game between two attack minded teams, but the result was no fluke. Raleigh simply outplayed their opponents, and it needed a series of top quality saves from Seaton goalkeeper Dan Stapleton to prevent a bigger winning margin.

The visitors got off to a flying start, when Riki Pitter was felled in the Seaton penalty area. Although the Seaton keeper initially saved Adrian Parr's spot kick, Parr latched on to the rebound and fired high in to the net.

A poor Seaton back pass then left Parr in on goal. His shot drifted just wide of the far post. After 17 minutes Jake Boyland outpaced two defenders, only to see his shot well saved. At the other end Raleigh keeper Liam Keast dealt capably with several high crosses. Ten minutes before half time Seaton hit the crossbar, but they levelled the scores at 1-1 several minutes later, direct from a well taken 25-yard free kick.

The second period saw Colaton Raleigh continue to press forward, and they were rewarded when Parr shrugged off a challenge, and produced a superb lob over the keeper's head 2-1.

Raleigh produced a spell of sensational football, as Damo Armes fired in a ferocious 30 yard strike which brought a sensational save from Stapleton, who had to fling himself full length to keep out a goal-bound volley from Parr. Jake Boyland, Riki Pitter and Ben Farrington all saw efforts fly just wide when well placed. With 15 minutes remaining, the home team hit back from another set piece. A corner from the right was not cleared and a Seaton attacker headed in to the net 2-2.

Fittingly it was Colaton Raleigh player/manager Riki Pitter who scored the winning goal in the 89th minute. He chested the ball down eight yards out, and volleyed a sublime strike home.

Pitter and his assistant Cliff Cooper were understandably thrilled with their team's performance. Pitter said: “The lads were all outstanding, they were a pleasure to play alongside. I just told them to go out and have fun. Josh and his Seaton team have had a fantastic season, but on the day we were the better side, and thoroughly deserved to win.”

A full pictorial history of this thrilling game, and the promotion winning

season, is on the Colaton Raleigh facebook site and well worth viewing.