Tiverton Town 4, Sidmouth Town Warriors 3 Like a 10lb bass that wriggles off the hook, this was the big one that got away for Warriors Under-12s!

The reigning champions are a big strong side, but the Warriors countered power and strength with skill and pace and very nearly pulled off an outstanding result!

Three times Tivvy took the lead, but each time they got their noses in front the Warriors dug deep to draw level. First Louis Spalding nodded Jack Syradd’s excellent clearance onto Lucas Richardson’s lightning run and he finished clinically. Then Jack Miller was alert to indecision in the Tivvy defence, intercepted a cross-goal pass and blasted it home and it was 3-3 when Richardson gathered the ball before beating a trio of defenders down the left before rifling the ball home. Miler then rattled an upright, James Emmett had a shot cleared off the line and the ball ran unkindly for Spalding when through one-on-one with the Tivvy glovesman. It was not until, the closing stages that the home side bagged their fourth to edge the contest.

A Town spokesperson said: “Our lads looked more thoroughly dejected after the game than ever before. They were so close to taking a big scalp and, on another day, they may well have won this one 6-5! , All the team can be very proud of their determined performance, and their clear improvement from one game to the next.”