Sidmouth Town Reserves, playing their first game since a December 9th defeat to University – and only their second league game since November – inflicted a rare defeat on Lapford with a solid all-round performance that brought them a 4-3 success.

Playing down the home clubs significant slope in the first half, Town dished up a disciplined shift, playing with great organisation in then face of some ‘strong arm’ tactics by the home side.

Toby Garrick marked his first start in the club second team with an impressive performance and Town took the lead when, in a slick counter-attack, Aidy Parr took an early shot that gave the Lapford glovesman no chance.

Ten minutes after firing his side ahead, Parr was at it again as he gathered a rebounded strike from Damien Armes and dribbled the ball home.

Lapford were clearly stung to be two goals down to the young Vikings and their ‘strong arm’ approach went up a notch – or two!

Things got even better for the Vikings when the tireless Scott Hughes finished with aplomb went sent through one-on-one with the Lapford goalkeeper to see Town into the break with a 3-0 lead.

After the break Lapford adopted a new tactic – a long ball approach – which resulted in plenty of work for Town central defenders Anthony Griffiths and Matt Colson together with goalkeeper Rob Gluckowski.

Early second half pressure eventually told when the ball was prodded home to make it 3-1.

The three goal margin was swiftly restored when Joe Miller chipped the keeper from 30 yards to make it 4-1 before two late goals from the hosts gave the score a ‘closer’ look than the contest had actually been.

The win, a fifth in nine league games this season for the Town second string, leaves them sitting eighth in the Macron League Division One table.

Only unbeaten Colyton have played fewer games than the Vikings in the league so far this term.

Town have three games to play to reach the halfway stage of their league campaign and this Saturday (January 20) they are in action at Chagford (I2.15pm).

Division Two table P W D L F A Pts

University 13 9 2 2 40 17 29

Lyme Regis 13 7 2 4 33 26 23

Colyton 8 7 1 0 37 11 22

Lapford 11 6 1 4 35 26 19

Chard Town 11 6 0 5 19 29 18

Cullompton Rangers 11 5 2 4 37 22 17

Perry Street & YH 9 5 2 2 25 12 17

Sidmouth Town 9 5 1 3 29 24 16

Chagford 12 4 1 7 28 29 13

Heavitree United 10 3 2 5 21 37 11

Bickleigh 9 3 0 6 29 41 9

Alphington 14 2 1 11 14 42 7

Wellington 12 1 1 10 19 50 4