Sidmouth Town and St Martins shared the spoil in a well-contested South West Peninsula League Eastern Division meeting that ended 0-0.

The fact that the game ended without a goal was very much down to some terrific defending and outstanding goalkeeping with Devon Under-18 glovesman Josh Mclean marking his first start in the Town goal with a fine display of handling.

In the first half the best chance that either side could fashion arrived in the 25th minute when St Martins’ Kevin Pike was felled inside the penalty area by Neil Pointing. Pike took the spot kick himself. However, Pike, trying to be clever with a delicate chip shop, merely put the ball yards over the bar, much to the delight of another large Manstone Lane turnout.

Ten minutes before the break Ryan Pym dragged his shot wide of the Town goal, his effort clipping the post, much to the relief of custodian Mclean.

Town also created a couple of chances, but both Ferenc Bodor and Connor Swingler were unable to apply the necessary composure to convert an opportunity into a goal.

After the break the end-to-end flow of the game continued and, in the second half, the best chance of the period fell to Town with the impressive Glen Gould opening up the visiting defence with a superb run and inch-perfect through ball, but recipient Riki Pitter fired wide.

At the other end Mclean was confident with his handling and the home defence, organised so well by the outstanding James Clampin, was more than equal to the best the visitors had to offer.

In the final quarter of the contest, the heavy pitch began to take its toll on the players. Town dominated possession, but it was St Martins who created the better of the final chances when Fred Kingdom lashed a rasping shot that cannoned back into play off the underside of the Town bar. The ball fell invitingly to Aiden Moyle, but the visiting player was yards off-side and the ‘goal’ was chalked off.

Town boss Josh Stunell said: “On the day both sides had chances to score, but a draw was a fair result.”

Town: Mclean, Binion, Pointing, Clampin (C), Kana’ah, Armes, Gould, Wellman, Swingler, Pitter, Bodor. Used Subs: Antat and Densham. Unused Jenkins.

Star man – James Clampin.