Manstone Lane was once again the scene of goals-a-plenty, but, unfortunately for the home faithful, it was visitors University who did all the scoring as the students eased their way to a 5-0 success against the nine-man Vikings, writes Steve Birley.

High-flying University, who have now won ten successive matches in all competitions, got an early boost when a rash Andrew Thompson challenge gave Peter Beadle the opportunity to place the sweetest of free-kicks up and over the wall and beyond Town gloves man Charlie Ledger.

The students continued to dominate the half as the Vikings struggled to deal with the superior fitness and movement from a well drilled side.

Ten minutes before the break the lead was doubled with Toby Yates finishing off an excellent team move. Town came back well and, five minutes before the break visiting goalkeeper Ben Pryor produced a superb save to deny Ferenc Bodor.

Town boss Josh Stunell tweaked his side’s formation during the and his side began the second half on the front foot and ought to have halved the deficient ion the 55th minute when Josh French spurned a glorious chance when his unchallenged far post header went wide of the mark.

The Vikings cause was hindered shortly after when Aaron Doble was red carded for an off-the-ball incident and the resultant penalty was tucked away by Josh Higgins.

Things got worse with 20 minutes remaining when a tangle of legs between Wes Tarr and Beadle was deemed to be a professional foul by the referee the industrious Tarr receiving what seemed a harsh red card.

Thereafter it became a case of ‘damage limitation’ for the home side though they could not prevent the students adding two more with an 80th minute Beadle goal, his second of the contest, and Cain Christoforou netted the fifth three minutes from time.

Town boss Josh Stunell drew one major positive from a disappointing afternoon. He said: “The performance of Jamie Newberry was exceptional. Sometime it s hard to think he is just 16-years-of-age for his performance, against a slick team, was one that oozed maturity, assuredness and quality. In only his second start in senior football he played a major part, along, it has to be said, with some pretty poor finishing by the student team, in ensuring that we were not on the end of a double figure hiding!”

Sidmouth From: Ledger, Colson, Tarr, Newbery, Cox, Pavey, Doble, French, Thompson, Bodor and Small. Used Subs: Miller, Pidgeon and Crosby