It has certainly been a superb past week to be involved with Sidmouth Town Football Club, writes Steve Birley.

The Vikings created new club history last Saturday when they won the clubs first ever foray into the famous FA Vase competition, winning 3-2 at Keynsham Town and they followed that up with a Wednesday night, 5-1 Manstone Lane victory over University in an Eastern Division game.

What made the FA Vase victory all the more impressive is the combined factors that the home side play at a higher level than Town and Keynsham also have an artificial surface for a home pitch.

The goals in the Vase tie came from Martin Hancock, Scott Hughes and Will Jenkins and, after the game, Town boss Richard Pears said: “The lads deserve all the credit. To a man, they were magnificent. We had done our homework and trained on a similar G4 surface and had a game plan that worked a treat. The win was absolutely no more than the lads deserved and the support we had at the game was so good. I’d like to thank the supporters for they really did help us in what proved to be a very special day for the club.”

Speaking after the win at Keynsham, Sidmouth Town chairman Andy Argyle said “I was immensely proud of the effort and work rate put in by the team. It was a thoroughly professional performance from both the management in the dugout and the players on an unfamiliar artificial surface against higher league opposition away from home.

“I was also very proud of our loyal supporters, who travelled to the game and cheered the team on as it became clear that Town were able to take the fight to the higher ranked home side and ultimately achieve a stunning victory.”

He continued: “There were richly deserved celebrations after the match and we are now looking forward to entertaining more higher-ranked opposition with Newquay-based Godolphin Atlantic on September 15. I hope as many folk as can are able to come along and support us at that and future games.”

On Wednesday night Town defeated University 5-1 at Manstone Lane with five different players scoring the goals! Danny Clay, Ash Small, Will Jenkins, Chris Duchenski and Dan Churchill found the back of the students net.

A delighted boss, Richard Pears, said: “After the high of Saturday [The FA Vase win] it would have been all too easy for the lads to serve up a ‘flat’ performance. However, it was anything but that. Danny Clay was, just as he had been at Keynsham, been simply inspirational. His presence lifts all those around him and he is so positive in all aspects of his game providing encouragement and support to all the players around him. He really does make us tick from his midfield berth.”

Tomorrow (Saturday) Town entertain an Elmore side that will come to Manstone Lane sporting a perfect 100 per cent start to the new league term. Town boss Richard Pears admits that while he recognises the game against the Tiverton-based side is a big one, he does need to look at the ‘bigger picture’ which is very much an FA vase tie at home to Premier Division Godolphin Atlantic in seven days time.

Pears says: “We have a squad and it is only right that I rotate things for the game with Elmore. I need to have the FA Vase game in mind. That might sound daft to some, but the season is a marathon spread over some 36 matches while the FA Vase is important to the club in as much as the financial gain that can be had by making progress round by round.”

He continued: “That said I want to see us competing on all stages and we will give it a good shot against the high-flying Eagles of Elmore.”