Local football on the second Saturday of March

Not for the first time this season Sidmouth Town put plenty into a South West peninsula league, Eastern Division, game and yet emerged with nothing to show for their supreme efforts.

Facing the same Teignmouth Town side who had won when the pair met at Manstone Road just seven days before.

Simon Hudson fired the Vikings into a 9th minute lead. It took the hosts until the half hour to restore parity courtesy of a superb long-range strike.

Typical of the luck that Paddy Thomas’ side is enduring this season, with just a minute to go before half-time a penalty area hand-ball was spotted by the referee and the hosts tucked the spot kick away.

Four minutes after the re-start the South Devon side increased their advantage and with three minutes it was 4-1. Six minutes after seeming down and out Simon Banks gave Town hope and, when Matt Rasmussen slammed home a penalty, awarded for a foul, the Vikings looked set for a share of the spoils.

Those hopes were extinguished 18 minutes for time when the home side bagged a fifth and final goal.

In the Fresha League Town’s second team were thumped 6-0 at home by top four side Bickleigh.

Ottery St Mary continue to struggle in the lower reaches of Division Three after a 1-1 draw with visitors Offwell Rangers and the Ottery Reserves were beaten 8-1 by Division Seven promotion chasing Otterton.

Colaton Raleigh won their home Division Two meeting with Exeter Civil Service 4-2.

Tipton St John followed yup their first win of the season the previous week with a splendid draw at Division One high flyers Wellington whilst the Tipton Reserves were empathic 5-1 home winners over Colaton Raleigh Reserves.

Fluxton stay two points clear at then top of Division Seven after a 5-1 home win over Newton St Cyres.

Make sure of your copy of the Sidmouth Herald, out next on Friday, March 15, for all the match reports from both senior and junior football.