Sidmouth Town Reserves were beaten 3-1 when they travelled to Premier Division Witheridge for an East Devon Senior Cup tie.

It’s the fourth successive year that the Vikings have been drawn away to the same level of opposition!

Town started brightly and were rewarded for their early endeavours by a 10th minute finish from Callum Cross, who guided home Aidy Parr’s low cross.

The hosts were clearly shaken and restored to a long-ball game that the Town back line were clearly very comfortable dealing with.

Jake Boyland had a couple of efforts as Parr, Cross and Freddie King combined to play some delightful football.

At the other end of the pitch, Vikings glovesman Rob Glukowski was confident on the rare occasion that Witheridge actually threatened the Town goal.

Half-time arrived with Town then happier of the sides, still holding their 1-0 advantage.

With the wind at their backs after the break, the home side continued with their route-one approach, but again Town dealt well with the best that Witheridge could offer.

However, with 20 minutes remaining, a careless pass put the Vikings in trouble and they were punished as the home side drew level.

Boyland went close twice and a series of Vikings raids resulted in plenty of opportunities from corners that weren’t capitalised upon and it was Witheridge who got the game’s ‘all-important’ third goal and a late fourth in the contest left the home side 3-1 victors.

The final score was harsh on a Town that that put in a terrific all-round shift and, with better finishing and greater fortune, the cup tie would have been all over by the break.

Town joint boss Paddy Thomas said: “It was a great performance from the lads we ran out of steam at the end, but could of been out of sight before the interval.

“Standards have been set and with players coming back in the coming weeks the future looks bright.”

On Saturday (September 15) Town’s second team travel to Exeter to meet Heavitree United Reserves (3pm).