Galmpton 1, Sidmouth 0 The Vikings returned from a trip to Torquay still searching for their first three points of a frustrating season.

The home side began the match sitting just a few places higher in the league so a close game was expected.

Town, with a few new faces in the squad due to unavailability and late withdrawals, started the game very compact and struggled to keep possession on a sticky surface.

Galmpton took the initiative and pressed forward putting the visitors under pressure without really testing Burgess in the Vikings goal.

At the opposite end Mike Stamp went close when his header flashed over the bar from a rare attack. On 25 minutes the games only goal was scored. Mark Burdus was adjudged to have fouled the home side’s striker in the penalty area when only minimal contact was made, and the resultant penalty was driven home.

This was just reward for the home side as they were the better side by far and the Vikings had to dig deep to stay in the contest.

At half time a change of formation led to Vikings beginning the second period with a much more positive approach.

In a total reverse of the first half it was now the visitors who dominated the game. Both Stamp and Sam Banks went close to netting, but the clock ticked down and no equaliser was forthcoming.

On the positive side of things Mark Burdus made a good return after recent unavailability and Nick Gingell was back after an enforced break.

Town boss Paddy Thomas said: “When you collect your thoughts and realise that the squad have given maximum effort once again the stark reality dawns that perhaps, as a team, we just are not good enough. Its disappointing that we didn’t play well for the whole match. I’ll take the blame for that as I feel I got the first half formation wrong. The simple fact is that we are all in this together and I really do feel for the players as they are an honest bunch who really care about the club and will not give up. I do urge the supporters to continue to come and get behind the team, they deserve it.”

The Vikings are at home to University on Saturday (2.15pm).