Followers of Sidbury United would have been forgiven for a rendition of: “Crisis, what crisis?”, after their teams 2-0 win at high-flying Honiton Town in last weekend’s Fresha League meeting.

In the days leading up to the match United had run an appeal via their Facebook page of the desperate need for new players to come forward.

The Devon and Exeter League website picked up on the appeal and the stage was set for a comfortable afternoon for Honiton Town at their Mountbatten Park home.

However, Jeremy Schofield’s men did him proud and struck a huge shock, winning the game 2-0.

The victory was United’s first away in the league since the opening day of the season, Saturday, August 15!

Schofield was very clear as to what the ‘magical difference’ had been. He said: “Fielding a potent two-man strike force for the first time this season proved just what we had been missing! Jamie (Bayliss) and Danny (Green) were terrific and it was their supreme front running efforts that not only got us both goals, but gave the whole team such confidence. It was almost as if the players were feeling that, with a strike force delivering as they were, all the other lads had to do was simply - their jobs!

“That they did with the end result being a clean sheet success against a very good side. In all honesty, had we won by more I don’t think there’d have bee too many complaints from Honiton Town.”

Bayliss, playing his first game of the season after picking up an injury in pre-season, fired United into a 15th minute lead and just ten minutes later Bayliss turned provider to provide the assist for strike partner Green to double the lead.

However, for all the back patting that rightly went on post match, once the dust had settled on a much-needed victory, Schofield was dealt a huge blow with news of injuries to three of the players who had taken part in the game. The biggest problem looks to be that Bayliss – who pulled up in the 60th minute after crossing the ball – has again damaged his thigh and he’ll sit out the entire festive programme.

Pete Grover suffered a groin injury and goalkeeper Jamie Harvey turned his ankle over!

Schofield said: “It really does feel like it’s a case of two giant steps forward (the win over Honiton) followed swiftly by three big steps backwards (the new injuries). On the flip side we have signed Steven West and he plays this weekend and we are also able to welcome back Josh Hannaford who is paying his own air fare to fly back from Belfast to help the cause!”

This weekend United host sixth placed Exwick Villa and then they face back-to-back meetings with second bottom Beer Albion before their final game before Christmas, a December 19, Byes Lane meeting with Clyst Valley.

As well as the latest injuries, United are also without captain Sam Seldon who is other wise occupied this weekend – at boxing!

Schofield explained saying: “Sam’s off to Dusseldorf to take in the Klitschko versus Tyson Fury fight.

“It means that once again, just a day or so before a Fresha League game I am genuinely unsure if I have a team to take to the pitch. These are unprecedented times in terms of player availability. The injury count is the longest I have ever know. That said, we are still going and there’s a determined air in the camp about doing everything we can to keep our smashing football club going.”