The Sidmouth Town season to date can probably be best described as ‘satisfactory’ as boss Josh Stunell continued to seek the right blend of youth and experience.

The Vikings end the year sitting 13th in the South West Peninsula League, Eastern Division table with 21 points from seven games.

One interesting statistic to come out of their campaign so far is that Town remain the only side in the division yet to feature in a draw!

The Boxing Day defeat at Budleigh was the seventh time this season that the Vikings have been beaten by a single goal. Indeed, the only time they have been seriously turned over was a 5-0 defeat at Crediton United.

In two meetings with ‘champions-in-waiting’ Tiverton Town Reserves – still unbeaten this term – they have gone down by the odd goal, losing 3-2 and 2-1.

Town boss Josh Stunell says: “The fact that so many of our defeats have been by just the one goal underlines, I feel, just how close we are. Predominantly we are a young side and, at times, there’s a naivety about the way we play the game. With experience we’ll see those single goals defeats turned into victories, of that I am sure.”

He continued: “For me the season so far has been all about developing the younger players, giving them experience and looking to put together a side that can of course eventually get us up into the top end of the division. We really are not far off and in the four league games against arguably the best two elevens in the league - Tivvy Town and University - we have shown ourselves to be mighty close to the opposition and perhaps the difference, on each occasion,has simply been experience.”

The Town boss concluded, saying: “I am very proud of the fact that we have proven ourselves to be a football club that allows young players to express the opportunity to play in the senior team - no matter their age.”

South West Peninsula League, Eastern Division.

P W D L F A Pts

St Martins 17 13 1 3 47 20 40

Teignmouth 17 10 5 2 37 19 35

Tiverton Town 13 10 3 0 32 10 33

Axminster Town 22 10 2 10 47 48 32

University Of Exeter 17 9 4 4 36 27 31

Alphington 18 9 2 7 33 24 29

Galmpton United 16 8 3 5 39 31 27

Budleigh Salterton 18 8 2 8 36 31 26

Appledore 13 7 4 2 31 18 25

Crediton United 16 8 1 7 39 38 25

Exwick Villa 16 7 2 7 24 32 23

Newton Abbot Spurs 14 7 1 6 33 30 22

Sidmouth Town 17 7 0 10 40 38 21

Brixham AFC 19 6 1 12 35 40 19

Bovey Tracey 19 6 1 12 35 47 19

Totnes & Dartington 17 5 1 11 26 52 16

Liverton United 16 3 2 11 23 44 11