Sidbury United 3, Elmore 4 The top two Fresha Division One side’s served up a contest befitting of the fact both teams went into the meeting with one hundred per cent records this season.

The visitors, without a first team game (they play in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division), pitched up with a very strong eleven whilst Sidbury were short of two defenders and a re-shuffle saw midfielder Glen Salter deployed at centre half.

Both sides fashioned early chances with both Dave Green and Adam Connett going close for United.

The deadlock was broken in favour of the visitors in the 20th minute when a free-kick was initially parried by United keeper Jamie Harvey only to fall invitingly to an Elmore player who headed home.

It got worse for the hosts when an attempt by make-shift defender Glen Salter to shield the ball ended with an Elmore striker toe-poking the ball home to leave United two down at half-time.

Five minutes after the re-start an Ash Small cross was turned past his keeper to halve the deficit for United.

The visitors restored the two goal advantage with a header from their six-foot-eight–inches tall striker.

Five minutes later Elmore made it 4-1 to seemingly end the game as a contest.

United had other ideas and, with 25 minutes to play Ash Small scored from a free-kick and when Mark Hadley scored son after the margin between the teams was a single goal!

The final ten minutes saw United throw everything they had at the visitors and they should have been level when Adam Connett had a heading opportunity five yards out and then Ash Small put a header wide of the target.

On the counter Elmore almost bagged a fifth but were denied by a superb triple save from Harvey.

United boss Jeremy Schofield said: “We were masters of our downfall by making mistakes that gifted them a two-goal lead. That said we battled well and probably deserved something with our second half performance. I sincerely hope their first team are in action when we travel to Tiverton for the return for I fancy the result might be different! It’s early season and this is a minor setback, but I’m sure will be there or there bouts come the end of season.”