Sidmouth Town thirds completed a Macron League Division Seven double over Cheriton Fitzpaine, beating them 5-1 at Manstone Lane having previously won 3-1 when the teams met in East Devon.

The first meeting between the teams have produced an even-steven first 40 minutes and the Town management urged the team to serve up energetic and focussed start. The young Vikings delivered just that, taking the lead with barely 20 seconds on the clock!

Sweeper Al Forsyth began the move which saw him hit a long ball with the outside of his boot into the right hand channel. Richard Johnson collected the ball and fired it emphatically past the despairing Cheriton glovesman.

The Cherries hit straight back and only a stunning save by Town goalkeeper Adam Bartlett, who flew at full stretch across his goal to turn the ball round the post - denied them an equaliser.

The save became all the more important when, shortly after, Reuben Raffell hit a long ball down the left touchline to Fez Bodor who outpaced the Cheriton full back before cutting inside and drilling the ball home.

Town were dominant and fizzed the ball around the Manstone Lane pitch with real confidence.

Raffell scored to make it 3-0 and, after a series of good chances were spurned, a Connor Murphy cross was met by a powerful header from Jake Sellick who rose majestically above the Cheriton defence to send Town into the break with a 4-0 lead.

The second half began in similar vein with Town the dominant side. A couple of early chances went begging before Johnson hit a long cross from the left hand side which was beautifully laid off by Ben Miller into the path of Raffell who swept a powerful volley into the left hand corner of the net.

A battling Chrries got a late consolation, but that could not take any shine of what was a hugely impressive all-round show from the Town thirds.

Two goals and an assist were not enough to give Reuben Raffell the man of the match award which went instead to Jake Sellick.

It was Sellick’s speed and endless energy in the middle of the park that was the real foundation of this impressive victory.