Sidmouth Raiders Under-10s travelled to Mid Devon for matches against home side Bradninch and Cullompton.

In the first half Raiders had to play into a powerful wind, but they played the ball around well and the Cully glovesman was kept busy pulling off a number of fine saves to deny William Pulman and Thomas Fletcher. On the odd occasion he was beaten the frame of the goal came to his rescue!

Just before the break Cully mounted a counter-attack and scored to hold a small advantage at half-time.

Raiders began the second half with a greater urgency to their game and, with defensive pairing of Harrison Howe and Man of the Match David Clapp, not only keeping the Cullompton attack at bay but also passing the ball well out of defence, Raiders were able to mount a number of attacks.

Playing some of their best football of the season, Raiders pushed forward looking for a deserved equaliser. However, the Cully glovesman was again at full stretch to deny Thomas Nicholls, playing his first game for the team, and Toby Gosse.

Late on a second counter-attack goal consigned Raiders to a 2-0 defeat.

Against Bradninch Raiders made a strong start and

Michal Bielawski scored from an acute angle before a brace from Jake Paget, playing up front for a change, put Raiders in charge, leading 3-0 at half-time.

Despite making wholesale changes in the second half Raiders still enjoyed supremacy. The home goal led a charmed life while, at the other end of the pitch, Raiders glovesman Oscar Parkinson was rarely troubled!

With five minutes left Bradninch netted what seemed to be a consolation goal. However, the goal clearly inspired the hosts and knocked back Raiders. A re-invigorated home side launched attack after attack and scored twice more to share six goals in a barn-storming finish! This will hopefully be a painful lesson learnt by the young Raiders that a game is never over – until the final whistle goes!