Sidmouth Town Reserves crashed to a surprise defeat on their visit to Tipton St John.

What made the derby defeat all the more surprising was that the home side had not won a match in league or cup this season, writes Simon Hudson.

The match was played on a pitch at Kings School, Ottery St Mary and the team’s changed in the Ottery Cricket Club before making the short trip across to the school grounds.

The pitch was small, arguably too small to stage a Fresha League match and the visiting side found themselves playing up a slope and into a brisk wind. Sidmouth had been given the formation and instruction to cope with the blustery conditions and spatially-challenged pitch, but conceded after just five minutes as a speculative shot was tipped onto his crossbar by keeper Dec Lines, only for the opposition to react faster than the Sidmouth defence!

The visitors got into their stride and began to create chances and Ferenc Bodor poked home through the crowd to restore parity.

Leading goalscorer Rikki Pitter then put the Vikings ahead with a superb header and Sidmouth were on top.

The game-changing moment came when Will Jenkins’ close-range volley was brilliantly saved by the home custodian.

Tipton seemed to sense it might indeed be their day and they scored from a long throw into the box, then added another from the penalty spot and bagged a fourth via a wicked deflection from a free-kick and half-time arrived with the Vikings 4-2 down. The second half played out in familiar fashion in these scenarios, the chasing team having the possession and opportunities, but never really convincing themselves they could score, whilst Tipton, to their credit, battled for everything, even after playing most of the second half with ten men and fully deserved their win.

For the Vikings it was an inept and inadequate performance if they seriously consider themselves as promotion contenders!

They have the chance to redeem themselves this weekend when they face struggling Fresha League Division Four outfit Axmouth United at home in the Bill Slee Cup (2pm).