Axminster Town 3, Sidmouth Town 2 Sidmouth Town became only the fifth side to suffer defeat to Axminster Town this season when beaten in the East Devon derby by the odd goal in five, writes Steve Birley.

The difference between the sides on the day was in the commitment stakes! The hosts showed real desire from the first whistle whilst the Vikings, who had been hit once again by unavailability, failed to rise above the level of mediocrity and so paid the ultimate price by losing the game!

An uninspiring contest yielded just the one goal in the first half with the home side leading at the break.

A half-time re-shuffle by Vikings boss Paddy Thomas saw the visitors gain a foothold in the game and the higher tempo approach paid dividends when Mike Pidgeon rifled the ball home from the edge of the box. Two minutes later the Vikings seized the initiative when Andrew Thompson scored from out wide, deceiving the host keeper with his shot helped into the net via an upright.

The moment that clearly changed the game came when the home skipper scythed down Thompson in full flight! With the Tigers players the last man the Sidmouth supporters waited for the inevitable red card only to be left astonished that it was only a yellow!

With 20 minutes to go that decision was compounded when the home team levelled with a goal that had an element of off-side about it.

Back on level terms the home team found a new gear and a second yellow for Wes Tarr left the Vikings playing the closing stages a man down.

Five minutes from time Robbie Powell, moments after being subjected to a heavy challenge, was clearly still feeling the effects when he was beaten for the third time in the game.

Town boss Paddy Thomas said post match: “It was both disappointing and frustrating. I’ll accept that we did not turn up I the opening stages and it took us a while to get our game going. However, once we did we most certainly did not get the rub of the green in terms of decisions! It was also galling to lose the services of Damien Armes and Robbie Powell, both subjected to what I considered bad challenges and neither was punished by the match official.”

On Saturday Town entertain Exwick Villa (3pm).