Sidmouth Raiders 7, Lympstone Lympets 0 Eddie Rudolph scored his first goal of the season, smashing a fierce drive home from the edge of the box as the dominant Raiders produced one of their best performances of the season, finding their goal scoring touch in the process as they powered to a big win.

Will Bond opened the scoring early in the first half with a low drive from the edge of the box before Samuel Burhop doubled the lead from close range. CJ Abbot made some great runs from central midfield, but couldn’t manage a finish to match the impressive approach play. Lewis Rowden and Henry Summerhayes produced some great attacking play and Bond threatened to double his tally, only to be denied by the excellent Lympets keeper.

Robbie Hallett spent much of the first half as a spectator, but had to be at his best to deal with an awkward free-kick and he came off his line quickly a couple of times to ensure a first half clean-sheet. However, the young glovesman did cause his manager angst at times with his desire to wander to the halfway line to try and join in the action!

With the Raiders dominant it afforded defenders Noah Raffell, Toby Whitfield and Kieran ‘Smithy’ Phillips the rare opportunity to push forward, some thing they did as often as they could prior to Burhop netting twice to seal a first half hat-trick. The fifth and final goal before the break was that thunderous strike from Eddie Rudolph.

Lympstone battled back in the second half and the game was much more even although Bond, now in goal, had little to do. Freddie Squire produced another fine performance with some tremendous tackling and precise passing and he was involved at the start of a slick move that ended with Burhop netting his fourth and the Raiders sixth.

Summerhayes weighed in with his first ever goal for Sidmouth after Hallett and Raffell had battled well to win possession in the Lympstone half before Hallett crossed for Summerhayes to fire home.

Coach Alan Hallett said: “It was certainly a very good attacking performance, but credit must be given also to Lympstone who never gave up and played in a great spirit.”