Sidmouth Town 4, Crediton United 1 Town boss Josh Stunell was able to savour victory for the first time as his Vikings side comfortably defeated the visitors at Manstone Lane.

Stunell was forced into a number of changes with Thomas, Thompson, Alphonse and Tarr, all of whom had played in the opening day defeat, all missing through a combination of injury, non-selection or unavailability.

Instead, in came Ben Howard, Ashley Small, Mark Burdis and Tony Cox.

What the Manstone Lane faithful got was a much more solid-looking Town side. The opening goal arrived in the 15th minute with Josh French tucking away a penalty. With Town keeping possession well it was no surprise when the second goal arrived on the half hour.

Tony Cox drove forward with the ball and, when he looked up and saw an inviting space inside the near post, he drilled the ball from 25-yards beyond the keeper and into the back of the net. It was a classic strike and, despite it being match day two of the new term, an early candidate for goal of the season!

A near-perfect first half was given a damping down just before the break when a visiting player got free at a corner to power a header home.

The goal clearly galvanised the visitor’s for it was they who forced the early second half pace. It needed the best of collective efforts from the Town back line of Cox, Pidgeon, Burdus and Farrington to deny the Mid Devon side a second goal. It was somewhat against the run of play when Mark Pavey got away from his marker before rifling a half volley beyond a ‘surprised’ gloves man!

The goal changed the whole tempo of the game with Town taking charge. However, the visiting side were not out of it an only a first class save from former Devon Under-18 goal keeper Ledger denied Crediton a second goal that might have caused a very different last 20 minutes of action!

Ten minutes from time Pavey struck with his second. The fleet-footed winger raced clear and, when faced with the visiting keeper flicked the ball through his legs from 10-yards to complete the scoring.

Sidmouth team: Ledger, Cox, Burdus, Tarr, Farrington, Pavey, O’donaghue, Cole, Small, French, Howard. Used Subs: Kana’ah for Cox (65, Dixon for Cole (80), Isaac for Howard (85). Unused Subs: Powell and Tarr Star Man: Mark Pavey