Sidmouth Town Reserves made Firewatch Devon Senior Cup progress after a 6-3 win at North Devon League side Pilton.

Despite a lengthy journey for the game, Town made a quick and bright start and scored just two minutes into the contest courtesy of an own goal and, shortly after, a crisp volley from Ben Miller, following a neat passing move, saw Town into an early 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately, it seemed then as if both team and management were drawn into a feeling of complacency, no doubt thinking that the early two goal lead would lead to a comfortable following 80 odd minutes!

However, the home side soon changed that thinking and they were able to embarrass the visiting side sufficiently to swiftly level things up at 2-2.

Once Town embraced the idea that hard work was needed to take the right result home to East Devon, they began to move the ball around with greater tempo and took a 3-2 lead into the half-time break thanks to Kyle Blair goal.

Clearly a half-time ‘chat’ worked for, after the break, the Vikings were a yard quicker – and sharper – and it was not long before the two goal, lead was restored when Ferenc Bodor added his name to the score sheet, outpacing the Pilton defence and prodding in at the near post

Scott Hughes tapped home a fifth following a great run and cross by Bodor and Will Jenkins headed a sixth. Sandwiched in between was another home strike.

Town Reserves’ joint boss Paddy Thomas said: “Arriving late in Barnstaple, due to players not being organised, wasn’t the best preparation for a big cup tie. That said, the journey clearly did not affect many as the team made a fast and positive start. Getting through to the next round was pleasing for all, but I am sure that much tougher tests are to come.”

On Saturday (October 14) the Vikings’ second string are away at Dawlish.