Sidmouth Town Reserves claimed victory by the odd goal in seven in a lively Tuesday night Manstone Lane encounter with visiting University Reserves.

Just as the Town senior side had done seven days before, Town’s second string put on an impressive performance under the splendid new Manstone Lane floodlights.

On a slippery surface, Town made the ideal start with Ben Farrington slotting a first minute penalty!

Sidmouth played some clever football and limited the students to long-range efforts that Town goalkeeper Jake Sellick dealt with comfortably.

At the other end of the pitch, Aidy Parr pounced on a defensive error to lob the helpless keeper and send Town into the half-time break with a 2-0 advantage.

Whatever the University boss said in the interval, it worked! The students came out looking a very different proposition and, after a period of exerted early second half pressure, scored to make it 2-1 and quickly bagged a second to level things up. That said, Town were the maker of their own downfall as, not for the first time this season, they needlessly gave the ball away and were punished with an incisive counter-attack.

To their credit Town regrouped and slowly began to regain their grip on the game.

Scott Hughes got on the end of a sweeping move to restore the home lead, before an audacious lobbed effort one again from Parr – this time from fully 40-yards, doubled his tally for the night, embarrassed the University glovesman for the second time in the contest, and made it 4-1 to Town!

There was still time for the students to score a screamer to round off a thoroughly entertaining game.

Town second team joint boss Paddy Thomas said: “The players gave all they had and deserved to get the three points. Hopefully we can build on this and show the same determination in every game. There is always something extra special about evening matches under lights and this contest had a bit of everything, plus it is nice for us to get that first league win under our belts.”

On Saturday (October 7), the Town second string make the long trip to North Devon to take on Pilton in a Devon Senior Cup tie that kicks-off at 2pm.