Newton Poppleford were on course to record their first win of the season before visiting Clyst Valley scored three times in the final quarter of the match to take a point from a 4-4 draw.

Looking to put back-to-back cup exits behind them, the Popples made a confident start with Matt Brown imposing his authority on the fame from a central midfield berth.

Midway through the first half the Popples took the lead when a long throw-in from right back Sam Hawkey found master-marksman Matt Rasmussen and he needed no second invitation to turn, run at the Valley back line and thunder the ball home!

That sparked a period of home dominance during which time Rasmussen netted his second and Pavey a third for the Popples to take a 3-0 lead into the break.

The home side were caught cold at the start of the second half, but the three goal margin was swiftly restored when Pavey struck his second of the game.

Then, what later proved to be the turning point of the game, disaster struck the Popples!

Man of the Match Matt Brown played a superb ball that got Adrian Parr in, but when the rifled the ball home the flag was raised for off-side.

A fifth goal at that stage would have ended the game as a contest.

A bad tackle on Brown, from behind, saw him limp out of the action and that certainly aided the visitors cause!

The pressure built on the home defence and, lacking the authoritative drive of Brown, they began to buckle.

Clyst Valley got one goal back and grew in confidence while the energy levels of the home side began to drop.

Two more goals were scored by the visitors before the final whistle.

Popples boss Neil Wood said: “It is disappointing top have lost the three –goal lead, but a positive is that we have a point and can build on that. Things went against us throughout the second half. These things happen and hopefully they even themselves out over the season!”

On Saturday the Popples travel to Thorverton.