Sidmouth Raiders 2, Copplestone 3 (after extra time) Sidmouth Raiders Under-10s suffered cup heartbreak, going out in extra time after a close encounter with Mid Devon-based Copplestone.

After a number of postponements the finally beat the weather to be played on a surface at Newton Poppleford which showed little sig of the heavy rain that has been falling in recent weeks!

Copplestone had much of the early play and opened the scoring.

However, Raiders carried a threat on the break, especially when Josh O’Connor and Freddie Dorman were on the ball. It was no more than the Raiders deserved when Owen Baldwin fired them level.

The goal spurred Raiders to play with renewed belief and confidence it was they that finished the game looking the more likely to bag a winner. However, a goal was not forthcoming and the match moved into extra-time.

In the extra period Copplestone scored twice, but Raiders refused to lie down and, with the determination and honest hard work that defines this Sidmouth team, they battled back to give themselves hope when Zac Lascelles scored the goal of the match finishing off a superb passing move to close the deficit to a single goal.

That set up a thrilling last five minutes when Raiders threw everything they had in a valiant attempt to take the contest to penalty kicks. Sadly the goal did not come and it means any hopes of cup glory for the team have to go on ice for another season. Nonetheless the performance was exceptional and if the team can take this into the remainder of their league campaign they will win many more than they lose!