Sidbury United 2, Cullompton Rangers 1

Saturday saw Sidbury host an in-form Cullompton Rangers side, at their sun-bathed Bye’s Lane pitch, writes Theo Burgess.

Sidbury broke the away team’s six game unbeaten run win with an impressive 2 – 1 win.

The match was played with two sets of completely different tactics, with Sidbury’s smaller, more technically abundant, side taking on a Cullompton side which oozed experience, height and strength.

This was an excellent test of Sidbury’s mettle with keeper Jamie Harvey playing an exceptional role in taking every cross which he was tested with and, had Sidbury been able to field a side boasting key defensive orchestrator Theo Burgess, would surely had produced a clean sheet.

Sidbury’s passing ability was in full flow with Pete Grover and Joe Webber in the middle of the park using their exceptional qualities to continuously frustrate the away side’s midfield, as well as being able to free up capable right winger Ben Woolley, backed up by Michael Nield to torment the opposing left back all game.

Sidbury opened the scoring when Dan Churchill was able to dispossess and cross for Ben Woolley to fire home a fearsome strike past the hapless keeper. Cullompton equalised soon after when they used their awe-inspiring long throw to pick out the unmarked man on the six yard box who was able to head home.

The second half saw Sidbury pose a real defensive rock with Squance and Bacon in particular not allowing Cullompton dominance. The game was won by the continuously impressive Pete Grover who has scored three in three for the club, this time scoring a wonderful effort to leave the away side stunned.

Man of the Match for Sidbury was Michael Nield, closely followed up by Simon Beacham. The players’ attitude is credit to them and will serve them well in the vital league run in.

Sidbury will be hoping to build on their recent run of seven points from nine when they host Exeter Civil Service this Saturday at 3pm.