Salter stars as Sidmouth Under-14s win well at Seaton

Sidmouth Under-14s were good value for a 2-1 win at Seaton, though they had to work harder than they may have liked to before they banked three more valuable points.

Previous matches between these particular teams have always been close and this was certainly no exception!

Seaton hassled and harried the more creative Sidmouth team with much of the game played in a very crowded midfield area.

Sidmouth had significantly more possession and territorial advantage in the first half with Jay Harris having a storming thirty-five minutes down the left hand side. However, it was Seaton who went ahead, albeit, very much against the run of play, and they held that lead through to the interval.

After the break the game began to open up more and chances began to arrive at both ends of the pitch.

Sidmouth’s right flank began to become a source of goal scoring opportunities. Sam Fernley, Louis Spalding and Luke Spiller started to dominate possession while the tireless central midfield duo of Matt Salter and Ben Goodier started to take control and move the ball around effectively. Eventually the deserved equaliser arrived.

Centre back Toby Garrick popped up on the right hand side of midfield and put in a teasing cross that was met by Jack Miller. His shot was saved by the keeper, but when it fell invitingly at the feet of Louis Spalding, he duly tucked it home.

Both teams then went in search of a winner and it arrived for Sidmouth when Man of the Match, Salter, closed down the keeper, forced a mistake and slid the ball in from the most acute angle.

Seaton then threw everyone (including the keeper) forward, but were thwarted by the Sidmouth defence with keeper James Emmett making two fantastic late saves.

The win sees Sidmouth sitting just two points and three places below table-topping Tiverton Town in closely contested Division Two of the Exeter and District Youth League.