Sidmouth Town can count themselves unfortunate to have had to play arguably the top side in this season’s South West Peninsula League, Eastern Division on the opening day of the new campaign.

Half the visiting side had Western League Premier Division experience, many of them in the colors of the now defunct Dawlish Town, and they are sure to be the team to beat this year in the section.

Vikings boss Paddy Thomas clearly had words with his side at the break for they were a yard faster in the second half and reduced the three goal half-time deficit within four minutes of the re-start when Andy Laws netted.

Thereafter the visitors looked a classy outfit and threatened to add to their score, but the Vikings dug deep and keeper Rob Howe was beaten just one more time when Stoke Gabriel netted their fourth and final goal in the last minute of the contest.

Town are back in action tomorrow when they entertain a Plymstock United side who like Town were not in midweek action and also lost their opening day game. In their case they went down 6-3 at Galmpton.

See a gallery of action pictures from Town’s opening league game at www.sidmouthherald.co.uk