Sidmouth Raiders took part in the Exeter and District Youth League Under-11 Plate competition.

This season’s meeting was held in Exeter and the Raiders kicked off their challenge with a 0-0 draw against City Raiders. The Sidmouth youngsters enjoyed plenty of possession and were most unfortunate not to come out of the contest with something more than the point.

Next up they shared two goals with Dawlish. Miles Lewis finding the net for Sidmouth with a neat finish.

A meeting with Crediton ended in a narrow 1-0 reversal and it was a similar outcome when they faced CS Pumas.

The final game of the competition for Raiders saw them meet Heavitree who took the lead only for Frank Long to level with a superb long-range strike. The Heavies edged ahead again, but, shortly after hitting the frame of the goal, Freddie Dorman levelled things up at 2-2. In the final minute Long served up a trademark piece of magic and was so unlucky when his fierce strike cannoned back off the crossbar!

Raiders were certainly the ‘nearly men’ of the competition as they were clearly the equal of all their opponents and, on another day, would probably have been better rewarded for their supreme efforts!