Last weekend saw the annual meeting between the Sidmouth Town Under-16 side and the club’s Junior coaching staff.

This was the sixth year the game has been played.

Previously theUnder-16s had won three and lost two and held the trophy heading into this years match.

It was the younger side that took the early initiative. Marshalled by captain Dan Chowdry, they were quicker to the ball and very dangerous on the counter. Strong build up play down the right from Barney Stone and Matt Tipton saw Liam Morrish open the scoring what proved to be the only goal of the first half.

Early exchanges in the second half saw the coaches again on the back foot with Morrish going close to extending the lead. Coaches defensive quartet of Paul Newbery, Simon Jones, Mike Hale and Nick Hall were put through their paces with keeper Scott Newbery playing a key role in keeping the youngsters at bay. The turning point in the match was a fortuitous penalty that saw Ben Woolley level for the coaches. Shortly afterwards Chris Deamus rolled Woolley in to add a second before Mark Rose coolly equalised for the youngsters following good approach play from Joe Gosse and CJ Bray.

As the game entered the last quarter the coaches, inspired by the Burgess trio of Jack, Theo and father, Mike, became more influential. A sublime reverse ball from Jon Miller saw Justin Ashby spring the offside trap and finesse the advancing keeper with a calculated lob, putting the coaches 3-2 up.

Woolley collected the ball on the edge of his own box before running the length of the pitch and striking fiercely into the roof of the net to complete his hat-trick. Late on Ian Peacock and Fred Orchard combined for the coaches to put Ashby in again, completing his brace with a finish of the highest quality. The Coaches were flattered by the 5-2 score line, the Under 16s honourably battling through to the end.

Coaches captain and Man of the Match Mark O’Connor gratefully received the winners trophy, levelling the victories at three each.

The Junior section wishes the Under-16s players all the best now as they enter into adult football.