Sidmouth Town were held to a 0-0 draw in their South West Peninsula League, Eastern Division meeting with Liverton.

The kick-off was delayed by an hour owing to the match referee being caught up in the traffic chaos that struck Exeter and the surrounding areas after a lunchtime accident on the M5.

When the game eventually got under way, Town began brightly and thought they had taken an early lead when the lively Ash Small tucked the ball away only for the ‘goal’ to be ruled out by a flag for off-side.

As the half wore on Town seemed the run out of ideas, perhaps wilting in the unseasonal strong sunshine, and half-time arrived with neither side having registered a goal.

During the break Town boss Josh Stunell let his players know that what he had seen for much of the first half was simply not what he wanted to be seeing!

To a degree, after the break, his ‘rocket’ seemed to have got through as his side did improves, but they failed to collectively master the basics and looked lethargic and struggled to carry out the simplest of instructions.

With 20 minutes remaining they should have broken the deadlock, but the usually clinical Ferenc Bodor, when set with a one-on-one with the Liverton glovesman, lashed his shot wildly wide!

The Vikings spent much of the game bossing possession, but almost paid the ultimate price for some woeful finishing when, with 10 minutes left, Dec Lines, who had spent the previous 80 minute as a virtual spectator, was forced to make a terrific save.

There was still time for substitute Ollie Binion to bag his side all three points, but, almost typical of the afternoon the Town side had, Binion fluffed his lines from six yards out and the last chance to seal three points was gone.

To read the thoughts of Town boss Josh Stunell on a ‘disappointing’ afternoon at Manstone Lane make sure of the next edition of the Sidmouth Herald, out on Friday, April 14.

Town team: Lines, Farrington (c), Newbery, Booth, Wellman, Pointing, Gould, Holding, Bodor, Densham, Small. Used Subs: Skilton, Swingler and Binion. Unused Jarrett.

Star man: Ben Farrington