Sidmouth Town thirds got back to winning ways after a disappointing defeat against top of the table Wellington the previous week as they beat HT Dons 6-1 to seal a seventh Macron League Division Seven success of the season.

Town made a bright start and they were rewarded for their early endeavours when a good run from Jake Sellick down the right wing gave him space to hit a low cross to Richard Johnson who slipped the ball under the goalkeeper.

One quickly became two as a Reuben Raffell header found the back of the net. Some impressive attacking pressure on the HT Dons keeper led to him conceding a throw and a Joe Gosse lay-off gave Sellick the opportunity to fire the ball home to make it 3-0.

Jimmy Pearse then fired a wonderful through-ball in to Richard Johnson who span past his defender before drilling the ball home from the edge of the area to send Town into the break with a 4-0 advantage which was no more than they deserved for an industrious all-round first half display.

There was controversy at the start of the second half when Jean-Paul Staniforth was harshly adjudged to have fouled an HT Dons player when all but one person saw that he played the ball first!

The resultant penalty duly ended any Town hopes of a clean sheet success, but they still ‘won’ the second half as goals from Jonny Dunn and Gosse rounded off a highly satisfying 90 minutes from the Town third team.

Special mention must go to Jimmy Pearse who had a hand in several of the Sidmouth goals. However, the Man of the Match award went to Al Forsyth whose determination and communication set the tone for an impressive Town win.

This Saturday (December 17) the Town thirds take on Bickleigh Reserves at Sidford. The Mid Devon men’s first team are without a game so it is likely that Town’s promotion hopes will be given a sever test.

Macron League Division Seven table

P W D L F A Pts

Wellington Town 15 12 2 1 58 30 38

Ilminster Town 12 10 1 1 37 14 31

Cranbrook 12 9 2 1 52 13 29

Sidmouth Town 13 7 3 3 41 26 24

Exmouth Spartans 13 6 1 6 40 40 19

K&M Polonia Exeter 14 5 3 6 30 28 18

Woodbury 14 5 1 8 29 44 16

Seaton Town 12 4 2 6 26 24 14

Cheriton Fitzpaine 13 4 0 9 28 43 12

Bickleigh 10 2 2 6 22 32 8

Colyton 11 1 3 7 17 37 6

H T Dons 13 1 0 12 15 64 3