Sidmouth Town Reserves were undone 4-1 on their visit to Exeter to face Heavitree United Reserves in a Macron Division One game.

However, on the journey back to Sidmouth the Town players – and management – were left wondering just how they ended up on the wrong end of the score line!

Indeed, before they departed Exeter, the hosts accepted that the fact the Heavies had won was also a mystery to most that had witnessed the 90 minutes of action!

Playing some good football on a poor surface, Town started brightly with a starting line up that was missing three experienced players and a regular keeper

Heavitree struck their first goal with their first shot on target, with Leigh Adey, taking on goalkeeping duties for the first time in 15 years, having no chance of keeping it out.

Minutes later Adey brought down the Heavies striker and the resultant penalty was slotted home. From the away dugout where joint managers Bargery and Thomas were watching proceedings, there were head shakes as to how their side were two down and, before the break, a third goal left the Vikings with much to do in the second half.

There’s was little the Town management could say to their players during the break aside of the obvious – ‘you are the better side and keep doing what you have been doing and things will hopefully change’

The second half saw Town dominate for almost the entire 45 minutes, but their Achilles heel was the final ball which rarely matched the impressive build-up play.

Louis Adey rifled home a free-kick to inspire thoughts of a deserved comeback, but a costly mistake in their own half sealed the Vikings fate as the home side scored their fourth and the games final goal.

On Saturday the Town Reserves are in Manstone Lane action when they host Alphington in a league game (3pm).