Sidmouth HC 1st XI 3, ISCA 2nd XI 2

A struggling but improving Sidmouth side welcomed league leaders ISCA to Sidmouth College on Saturday, writes vice captain Pete Baker.

A sharp start enabled Sidmouth to race into a two goal lead within the first 15 minutes. Incisive play down the right from Andy Mapson and Dan Devine culminated in Charlie Please notching his second and third goals of the season, with two well taken finishes.

Sidmouth continued to press, creating good opportunities to score via the penalty corner route. ISCA began to get hold of possession more regularly as the half wore on, working James Tribble in the Sidmouth goal. Strong tackling from Charlie Plowden and Ian Brown, coupled with excellent goalkeeping from Tribble, kept Sidmouth’s two goal lead intact at the half time break.

The second half saw a more even encounter with possession changing hands more frequently. A penalty corner saw ISCA back into the match, halving the deficit at the far post. With ISCA pushing for an equaliser, Sidmouth were aided by the decision to show a red card to one of the oppositions midfielders for violent conduct. A quick counterattack ended with Pike finishing well from close range after Please had hit the bar.

ISCA made it a nervy finish, scoring a penalty flick with three minutes left but the home side managed to hang on for the victory.

Sidmouth rise to eighth in the table and travel to eleventh placed Plymouth next in search of back to back victories for the first time this season.