Sidmouth Town thirds were 2-1 winners when they met Exmouth Spartans in a Macron League Division Seven encounter.

Recent games had been notable for Sidmouth’s slow start with it taking 15 minutes for them to get into their stride.

But in a break with recent tradition Sidmouth contrived to continue this week’s slow start for most of the 90 minutes!

Exmouth were impressive and made a series of good chances in the first half that they were unable to convert.

The Sidmouth management hoped that the half time break would provide an opportunity to stir Sidmouth from their slumbers, but in fairness the second half continued in much the same vein.

Just as defeat began to seem inevitable Keiran Fayter-Small danced past the Exmouth defence to poke a left footed shot into the bottom corner.

Exmouth were soon back on level terms after Exmouth’s impressive number nine beat a series of half hearted challenges before unleashing an unstoppable shot.

It was backs against the wall time again for Sidmouth until another goal against the run of play as a deceptive shot from Richard Johnson crept inside the left hand post.

This time a more determined Sidmouth defence held on to secure a highly fortunate three points.

Credit must go to Keiran Fayter- Small who tried in vain to energetically set an example, but the Man of the Match award went to Jake Sellick whose heroics in the Sidmouth goal were the highlight of an otherwise disappointing performance.

Town thirds are at Broadclyst on Saturday (November 12) where they will take on Cranbrook in another league match. Not since the very first game of the season – August 27 – have Town thirds been beaten in a league game (they lost 2-0 at Ilminster Town Reserves on that occasion). The current unbeaten run is now seven games since their last defeat which was a 4-2 reversal on September 17 at the hands of Ipplepen Athletic.

With Cranbrook unbeaten all season Saturday’s match at Broadclyst should be one to savour!