COLYTON suffered a 7-1 defeat when they travelled to Mid Devon to face high flying Culm United in their latest Division Two outing.

Colyton followers though, must not lose heart after seeing the result of this game, as the actual score line does not reflect the excellent first half display which saw Colyton completely outplay the table toppers.

On the day, nothing seemed to fall for the side as any form of good fortune deserted them completely!

Culm Utd are not top without good cause and Colyton did cause the home side plenty of problems and similar performances against sides lower down the Division Tow table and Colyton should begin to climb the table.

The game started in very difficult conditions, a strong gusting wind would prove to make it very difficult to get the ball down and put several passes together, although both teams really did well.

Colyton really started brightly and in the first minute Marc Potter made a surging run into the opposition penalty area, he was felled and the match official warded a free-kick some three yards outside the area, much to the consternation of the Colyton players!

However, any feelings of injustice were soon forgotten as Cullum Somers curled a brilliant free kick around the wall. The ball cannoned off the crossbar and George Moore reacted quickest to smash home the loose ball for his first goal for the club since transferring from Seaton Town a few weeks ago.

Culm Utd were shelled shocked and struggled to cope with a confident Colyton.

Five minutes after the goal Somers rose magnificently to head back across the face of the goal for Richard Tratt to connect with a great first time shot. The goal bound strike hit a defender on the knee and bounced to safety. In the tenth minute Somers waltzed his way past two or three defenders before he appeared to be pushed off the ball but again, pleas for suitable punishment for a foul inside the area, were waved away by the match official.

On 16 minutes an aimless shot was collected in the air by Colyton keeper Kris Reid, as he rose to collect the ball he badly twisted his ankle, when landing awkwardly he made the injury even worse. Reid collapsed to the floor and the ball rested at his side. There were no players inside the area but play was allowed to continue with Reid prone on the ground and a full thirty seconds elapsed before a home player pounced to tuck the ball into the net!

Reid bravely tried to continue but could only last some five more minutes before Jimmy Richards had to replace him.

Colyton kept their heads and, although Culm were beginning to play the ball around, they did not put the visiting goal under much pressure.

Meanwhile, Colyton continued to press and did create several more good opportunities but, as in recent weeks, the goals have really dried up.

Twice they were denied a brace of scoring chances. Somers again was the driving force on the half hour he sprinted clear to be brought down on the edge of the area by the Culm keeper.

A free-kick was awarded and the claims that the foul had been committed by the ‘last man’ were waved away.

Somers was again denied when he was tripped in the area but once more, no penalty was awarded.

The loose ball was hammered up field where it ended in the back of the Colyton net ion the 55th minute of the first half! There was still further time played for Colyton to ship another to head into the break trailing 3-1 yet having put so much into the contest.

Any thoughts of a comeback were soon dealt with by the hosts who added two more goals within the opening ten minutes of the second period.

A thoroughly demoralised Colyton then struggled to contain a Culm side that struck twice more to seal a 7-1 win but the score line did not do justice to the collective shift put in by Colyton.

The reserves did better though earning a 2-2 draw against a useful Tipton St John Reserves. Chris Long & Ed Busby shared the goals in a much improved team performance.