Sidmouth Raiders Under-15s suffered all sorts of emotions on the final day of their Exeter and District League season before discovering – via a supporter – that results else where meant they would start next season still in Division One.

Raiders had two games to ensure they stayed in the top flight. The first was at Heavitree where they won 3-2 having, at one stage, been 2-0 up!

The Exeter side restored parity before a Jack Gibson free-kick was met by Oliver Turton who thumped the ball home. However, it was Raiders’ goalkeeper Kieran Hopley who took centre stage for he made three excellent saves to preserve the lead whilst, at the other end of the pitch, Scott Hughes saw his 25-yard effort cannon back off the bar.

That meant a last day trip to Moors where a similar outcome would guarantee safety. Moors struck first and led 1-0 at the break. Raiders started the second half brightly, but were denied by a splendid save before they were frustrated by the lack of a penalty they felt ought to have been awarded! However, they kept plugging away and eventually levelled when Scott Hughes headed home a corner. That set up a grandstand finish which saw Turton go agonisingly close to winning it. The full-time whistle went to leave the players feeling certain they would be relegated.

However, news filtered through via mobile phone that rivals Seaton had failed to win and so Raiders stay up!