Sidbury United finished the Fresha League Premier Division season in a top four berth and that, for a side playing at the top level for the very first time, represents an excellent campaign.

The Byes Lane outfit won half of their top flight fixtures, netting nine wins at home and six on the road. They were beaten three times at Byes Lane and lost five away.

One interesting statistic is that United conceded fewer goals than all but one team – champions Tiverton Town! The Mid Devon side shipped 29 in winning the title, whilst United conceded 37 in their league campaign.

However, at the other end of the pitch the goal count was not as impressive with the 63 goals they scored only being better than five other Premier Division teams!

United boss Jeremy Schofield says: “It’s been a very respectable first season for us at this level. We were hit badly by injuries over the final five weeks when we were forced to play many a game without a recognised striker. We got by – just – but had we not been hit by injuries we could well have finished in a top two slot, and our striking problems are certainly highlighted in the goals scored column.”

He continued: “In our pre-season training we were in the seemingly fortunate position of having six strikers on our books. One went off travelling and then the other five all picked up injuries along the way, culminating in them all being out for the last six games!”

The United season is not finished for they are in action next Wednesday (May 13) when they face recently crowned Fresha League Division two champions Upottery in a Morrison Bell Cup semi-final tie.

Schofield says: “It’s a big game. There’s no doubt in my mind that Upottery will be looking to do a number on us. Dan Prettejohn (Upottery boss) has done a great job with them this season. We played them pre-season and they looked a useful outfit and I am not surprised with the success they have had. However, we are keen to end the season on a high and so we need to be winning this one and then move on to contest the final.”

Jamie Bayliss and Dave Green, two of the injured strikers, both look like being available having recovered from hamstring problems.”

The winners will meet whoever wins the tie being played the night before between Feniton and Sidmouth Town.