Sidmouth Warriors 3 AC Heavitree 6 Sidmouth Warriors Under-14s were involved in a pulsating bottom of the table clash with visiting AC Heavitree, writes Simon Jones.

It really was end-to-end stuff and was played in a spirit that was a credit to both clubs.

It was exciting right from the kick off with both sides lining up with a 4-4-2 formation.

Every player put in a great shift. The Warriors, without Gosse up front, had Harris and Phillips pushed forward allowing them the freedoms to play their passing football and spread the play to unsettle Heavitree. Lowe and Wilkes in midfield covered every blade of grass between them and Littley was solid in defence.

Unfortunately, it was Heavitree who struck first after 20 minutes, but the Warriors with De Gruchy and Silk working tirelessly down the right combined to allow Silk to put in a perfect cross for Buckland to fire home the equaliser.

Again the thing that has hindered the Warriors all season happened again, two lapses of concentration in a three minute spell allowed Heavitree to score two goals and lead 3-1 at half time.

The second half was a real humdinger in pouring rain.

The Warriors had a number of opportunities to reduce the deficit with Harris, Wilkes and Lowe all going close before a fantastic through ball from Phillips put Perez one on one with their keeper.

He kept his cool and slotted it into the corner of the net.

Then disaster happened within 30 seconds of the restart Heavitree scored and, five minutes later the game was over as a contest with Heavitree scoring again.

Not one member of the Warriors let their heads go down and they attacked time and time again, putting the pressure on, winning corner after corner. From a pin point corner by Harris, Mead headed home to reduce the deficit and give the Warriors renewed hope.

Lowe had another two efforts well saved and Harris went close, before a breakaway unlucky own goal settled the Warriors fate.

Once again the final score of 6-3 didn’t really give justice to all the hard work the Warriors players put in.

Team; Ollie Perez, Toby De Gruchy, Ricky Littley, Callum Wilkes, George Harris, Cameron Phillips, Joe Lowe, Jack Silk, Ethan Mead, Matt Jones, Joe Buckland, Eliot Perez and Louis Chapman-Coombe.