Teign Valley 3, Sidmouth Raiders 3 Sidmouth Town Under-12 Raiders produced yet another good display in an ever-improving season, deservedly sharing the spoils with table-topping Teign Valley, writes Tony West.

The significance of the result became apparent at full time when the opposition chief advised that Raiders had become the first team in thirteen months to take points off them at their home ground!

Raiders made a bright start and, in the early exchanges, first saw a shot cannon back off an upright before they then dragged another effort just wide of the mark.

The home side weathered the storm and hit back to open the scoring. They soon added a second and then made it 3-0, all within the first quarter of the match!

Fearing the worst the coaching team and ever supportive parents tried to rally the lads and, as a direct result of some positive parental encouragement, Raiders pulled a goal back when a training ground throw-in routine ended with Archie Rowe netting. The home side were stung back onto the offensive, but got no change out of Ollie Jones in goal. Young Jones was supported superbly by his defensive unit of Jamie Wyant Scott Gibson and Ben Scrivens and half-time arrived with no further goals at either end.

After the break the end-to-end flow of the game continued. Thomas West and Matty Laurenti played key roles with both tackling with enthusiasm as Raiders sought a second goal.

There enterprise was rewarded with a goal that will surely be considered at the end of the term for the award of ‘goal of the season’! The scorer was Finley Morgan who rifled a shot home from fully 30-yards!

Morgan got tremendous midfield support from the ever dependable Cole Monaghan who put in a tireless shift.

With Archie Rowe’s mouth-watering skills and the energy brought to the game by Ben Latham it was no surprise that it was the Raiders who continued to look the most likely.

Jack Wilson came on and immediately started to worry the home defence with intelligent runs and good strength resulting in a period of sustained pressure which brought several corners and from one of them, delivered by Monaghan, was headed powerfully home by Morgan to make it 3-3 with 10 minutes remaining.

Both teams sought a winner, but a draw was a fair outcome after a splendid match.