Important first win for Sidmouth

On a wet pitch,that stood up well,the visitors started brightly.However for all their early possession they didn’t test Burgess in the home goal. Slowly the Vikings started to gain some momentum and exerted some pressure on the Parkway defence.

With the clock ticking down to half-time the Vikings went ahead when a corner by Thomas was knocked in by Mike Stamp and the Vikings held the lead going into the interval.

The second half got under way with Town looking stronger and more assertive. Parkway to their credit made a couple of changes and were not going to fold easily. On the hour mark Kev Dorman,who had been brought into the fray 60 seconds before,took his first touch to set up a right foot screamer that left the keeper clutching thin air. Now with confidence flowing through the side. Town played some decent football.

Ten minutes later the home side made it 3-0 when Dorman broke down the right to cross for Matt Rasmussen to calmly stroke in his first goal of the season. Twenty minutes to go, What could go wrong?

Unfortunately, Parkway hadn’t read the script and started pouring men forward in hope that they could get at least a goal that their performance deserved.

That was duly delivered. Skipper Alex Raistrick, enjoying a fabulous season, was penalised for shirt pulling in the box. Burgess was sent the wrong way from the spot and the visitors could now sense a comeback. When cool heads and calmness was needed Town panicked and stopped passing the easy ball,instead giving the ball away offering Parkway to put pressure on the defence.The visitors pulled another goal back with 80 minutes played to make it 3-2. However in the 85 minute Rassmussen was put through 40 yards out and drew the keeper before chipping the ball into an empty net. That proved enough to give the Vikings their first win of the season and into the next round.

Next Saturday another home game with Galmpton United being the visitors 3pm k.o

Managers View: Paddy Thomas said: “Obviously pleased to register a win at last, although we made it more difficult than we needed to. We made some changes during the first half, at half time and again during the second half and they certainly had the desired effect. Hopefully, with the squad now looking stronger,competition for places will push the players to produce performances that will in turn benefit the team. Darren Thomas and Matt Rasmussen were the pick of the squad.

We have two tough games now where if we get a bit of good fortune and apply ourselves properly we are capable of picking some points up.”

Budleigh Salterton 1 Sidmouth Town 1

On a drizzly Wednesday evening Town visited their neighbours Budleigh Salterton for what turned out to be a keenly-fought contest.

The Vikings handed Peninsula debuts to Dan Broom and Steven Rampaul as they sought a first win of the season.

The Robins started quickly and Town’s defence had to be on their toes to keep the lively Robins attack at bay.

Town’s strikers were looking dangerous on the odd occasion that the side kept possession. However, just as the half time whistle was to be blown, the Robins deservedly took the lead. After great defending by Mark Badcock,the ball was cleared to the Robins’ skipper Brett Wright who rifled it past keeper Jack Burgess into the top corner.

Town made a few adjustments at the interval and straight from the restart put the Robins defence under pressure.

This resulted a couple of corners by Darren Thomas in quick succession and, from the second of these, Dan Broom stroked home a superb left foot finish to square the tie.

Both sides continued to press for a winner but neither side managed to add to their tally.

Manager Paddy Thomas said: “This was a fantastic effort from all 14 players from which the defence and keeper can take huge credit, with Mark Badcock the pick of the bunch.”

?Sidmouth are home to Galmpton this Saturday, 3pm. It is a great chance for the Vikings to earn more league points as Galmpton are only just above them in the Peninsula League East Div One table.

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