Hughes a clever chap as Sidmouth Raiders Under-14s win at Central

Central 1, Sidmouth Raiders 2 Sidmouth Raiders Under-14s continued their fine form in the Exeter and District Youth League with a deserved, if hard-earned, success in Exeter.

In a bight start Raiders struck the frame of the home goal and went on to win a number of corners, superbly delivered by Parsons, in the opening exchanges, but were unable to find a finish to match some impressive approach play.

Central offered plenty, but they got little change out of then organised Raiders back line of Latham, Main, Gibson and Newton.

Half-time arrived with the game still looking for its first goal. The deadlock was broken early in the second half when Miller received a throw-in and travelled with the ball to the bye line before crossing to Turton who planted a firm header into the back of the Central net!

The home side powered back and it needed a superb save by Raiders keeper Skelding to deny them. However, the glovesman was then beaten by a goal that had an element of good fortune for the hosts about it! A shot was going wide when the keeper looked to control with his feet, but slipped and the ball trickled over then line!

The Raiders response to this piece of adversity was superb! They were straight onto the front foot and the Central keeper was forced to make four super stops to deny them. The ball eventually beat the glovesman only for the ‘score’ to be ruled out by a linesman’s flag for off-side.

With five minutes to go the Raiders persistence paid off when Hughes was played in in the inside-left channel and he turned inside and planted a low shot into the bottom corner of the net much to the relief of team mates and a large travelling contingent of Sidmouth followers.