Sidmouth Town Junior Vikings Under-12s made a superb start to the new Exeter and District Youth League season, netting victory over a Culm Sampford side that they had previously never beaten.

In a bright start the Vikings played with urgency and precision and the pace of Alexander Goody caused problems for the home defence and fashioned four good early chances.

However, the home goalkeeper proved to be in top form and was equal to the best of the Vikings’ attacking efforts.

Indeed, it was the home side who struck first with a clinical finish from a defence-splitting pass that left glovesman Leo Gribble powerless to deny the score.

As the first half wore on Vikings introduced additional pace in the form of Haiden Clapp and Joe Trickey and the visitors attacking intent was finally rewarded when a wonderful diagonal pass from defender Reece Hext, picked out Reggie Reed, who cut in from the right wing, breezed past his marker and drilled the ball home.

There was still time in the half for Alexander Goody to outpace the home defence before pulling then ball make to Dion Skinner, who marked his Vikings’ debut with a smart finish to leave the visitors holding a 2-1 interval lead.

The Vikings started the second half in the same way they finished the first, but, with Culm having the benefit of the slope it meant that it would be a slightly more defensive second period so a change was soon made, moving Dion Skinner to right back along with Kieran Wood in central defence and Reece Hext at left back enabling James Plowden to return to his usual central midfield role.

Culm came back into the game, but failed to create any clear cut chances, and it was the Vikings, with impressive link-up play involving Riley Pugsley, Sid Ridgeway and Goody, who always looked the more likely to score the next goal.

As the game entered its final five minutes, the home side threw everything they had in a bid to find an equaliser.

They did fashion one last chance, but Leo Gribble made a fantastic save right at the death to ensure his side secured a richly deserved opening day win.

The home coach was quick to congratulate the Vikings for their all-round performance.