Honiton 1, Sidmouth TJV U13s 4

After no match for nearly a month, it didn't take long for Sidmouth to take control against their dogged and determined hosts, writes Jon Miller.

It didn't take long for Sidmouth to take the lead with a corner from Connor Murphy going straight in and the outstanding Freddie King got the Vikings’ second. Spurred on by this Sidmouth went on the charge for more goals and but for the Honiton keeper pulling off a series of terrific saves to deny King, Jack DeWinton and Joe Miller Sidmouth would have had the points wrapped up by half time. 10 minutes before the break Honiton got themselves a lifeline when a bit of penalty area pinball saw a fortunate ricochet into the net. Spurred on by this Honiton pressed for an equaliser.

Honiton started the second half as they finished the first forcing keeper Tyler Hillier to parry a stinging shot over his bar, but after 10 minutes Sidmouth started to stamp their authority back on the match and with King, Miller, Ed Doble and Ben Miller causing problems whenever they got on the ball. With 15 minutes to a through ball put Doble in the clear who coolly placed the inside the post to restore the two goal cushion, any Honiton attacks were dealt with admirably by Tom Orchard, Jamie Newbery, Alex Stone and Matt Jones. Eight minutes from time the points were secured when Alastair Forsyth smashed the ball home to score against his former team. Manager Sean Murphy said "It was a terrific performance on a pitch not conducive to attractive, flowing football.It was a real battle and it was good to see that we were really up for it right from the first whistle.Credit must go to Honiton and you could see why they were unbeaten in the league this season as they never stopped pressing trying to play football.This sets us up nicely for March when we have three semi finals to play"

Photo; Back row; left to right; Alastair Forsyth, Connor Murphy, Jonny Surtees, Tyler Wellman, Jamie Newbery, Joe Miller

Front row; Jack De-Winton, Ed Doble, Dylan King, Billy Rudolph, Ignacio Sanchez, Ben Miller

Saturday Feb 25

Sidmouth 4 CS Falcons 1

Sidmouth produced one of their best performances of the season, victorious over a side that had beaten them in the first game of the season. Despite early pressure and creative play Sidmouth fell behind when hit on the counter. And it took until the 30th minute before parity when Billy Rudolph half volleyed home inside the box. The home side had done well to keep their momentum after some very curious decisions from the assistant linesman.

In the second half the goals began to flow. Jamie Newbery, joining Joe Miller and Alex Stone in midfield created a constant threat with striker Jack De-Winton benefiting with a goal. Roel Ruigrok, George Harris and Ben Miller provided the width and a classy through ball from the later saw Ed Doble slot home the third. Late on Tyler Wellman added a fourth with a sharply taken chance. The defensive line up on Jon Surtees, Al Forsyth and Connor Murphy kept CS to just three efforts in the whole match. A fine team display with Tyler Wellman stealing the man of the Match honours.

STJV U12 Warriors 0, Crediton Saints 2

Sidmouth Warriors U12s’ unbeaten run came to an end, in a game where they gave everything and came away with nothing, in the quarter finals of the cup at home to Crediton Saints who are in a league above, writes Simon Jones.

Crediton started strongly and were the better team for 10 minutes and made this count by scoring. The goal galvanised the Warriors and they started to win all the battles all over the pitch. Woodruff and Hayman were outstanding in defence and dealt with everything Crediton threw at them. Lowe in midfield gave a captains performance and covered every blade of grass dominating proceedings. The Warriors created numerous chances with Silk and Cooke going very close. The half time whistle blew with the Warriors on top but Crediton with the lead.

The second half started the way the first half had finished with the Warriors on top. A great chance was missed when 3 Warriors players got in each others way when it looked easier to score. More chances came and went with Lowe, Silk and Cooke pulling the strings in midfield. What the Warriors lacked was the final ball and somebody to put it in the net. What the Warriors had was passion, commitment, hard work and a fantastic attitude. With 15 minutes to go a brave save by Sinker led to him twisting his leg and having to be carried off. Hayman went in goal and Mead slotted into defence superbly. The Warriors kept the pressure on but couldn’t find a goal and with 2 minutes left the inevitable happened, with the Warriors chasing the equaliser, Crediton launched a counter attack and scored. To their superb credit the Warriors kept going to the final whistle and when it did blow the players knew they had given everything.

Crediton knew they had been in a match and praised the Warriors performance. On another day and with a bit of luck the Warriors could and should have won.

Team; Leon Sinker, Matt Jones, Tom Woodruff, Kade Hayman, Joe Lowe , Jack Silk, Toby De Gruchy, Elliot Perez, Tom Cooke , Ethan Mead, Joe Buckland, Luke Tremlett and Alex Thomas.

West Exe 2, Sidmouth Warriors U11s 2

Sidmouth U11s were in sparking form, focused and confident on the ball, and were 2-1 up towards the end, despite West Exe having taken an early lead, writes Alex Spalding.

The boys kept their cool. The midfield trio of Dylan Nicholas, Jacob Rice and Toby Garrick put their opponents under constant pressure, winning the ball and distributing it intelligently. Lucas Richardson ran onto a Rice through ball with his first touch and levelled.

Sidmouth's defence was immaculate, while the pressure up front was starting to tell, and, in a scramble, James Emmett's header put Sidmouth 2-1 up. Sidmouth needed a third goal and in the second half we went nail-bitingly close when a lightning break by Jay Harris forcing a great save. Louis Spalding too was very threatening. On the right Jack Miller and Ollie Truman controlled their territory fiercely, while at left-back Ben Shorthouse was mature and composed, his best game yet.

But West Exe began to push back, and eventually equalised from close range. A hair-raising last 5 minutes meant the match could have gone either way, but it finished 2-2, a wonderful game played in great spirit, which Sidmouth would have won on points if football was judged like boxing! Really well played lads.

Sidmouth Town U10s Sunday team won the East Devon League with three games remaining.

Sidmouth Town U10s 7, Feniton U10s 1

Sidmouth’s goal scorers were Connor Mcnamara-Campbell 3, Tyler Wood 2, Jake Jones 1 and Alexander Mitchell 1.

Sidmouth U10s Warriors 4, Bradninch U10s 0

Goal scorers Alexander Mitchell 2, Ryan Griffiths1 and Thomas Rush 1

Sidmouth U10s Warriors 3, Sidmouth U10s Raiders 0

Due to an odd number in the league , Sidmouth had to play each other to make up the league fixtures.

It was a real local derby, with tackles flying in and the Warriors settled down and played the better football.

The Warriors had goalie Harry Ensall to thank at 0-0 for a fantastic save from Raiders’ Oliver Jones. Warriors went on to win 3-0, with goals fromTyler Wood, 2 , and Josh Roberts, 1.

STJV Raiders U9s 6, Whipton 1

Whipton started brighter but, once Will Bond crashed home the Raiders’ first from a tight angle and CJ Abbot and an own goal extended the lead it was never in doubt. Abbot got the fourth and completed his hat-trick with a long range effort before Bond scored the sixth. Deadly finishing saw Bond and Abbot joint Men of the Match.

STJV Raiders U9s 1 Exeter Panthers 3

The Raiders attacked from the first whistle but Panthers grabbed the lead before half time. Despite some good defending, Panthers scored twice more before Thomas Rowan hammered home a volley for a late consolation goal for the Raiders.

Exeter Panthers 1, STJV Warriors U9s 2

warriors dominated both halves. The team is built around very strong defence and great up front attacking team.

Calvin Clifford scored first, Panthers replied but it wasnt long before the Warriors took charge. Thomas Mead, Harry Emmett and Richie Drewett set up Clifford to smash a second goal into the net. Man of the Match was Thomas Mead.

Whipton Youth 0, STJV Warriors U9s 5

Whipton youth had no chance getting near goal. The Warriors stayed focused all game and goals came from Harry Emmett 2, Toby Neumegan 2 and Josh Haigh 1. Man of the Match was Jack Howe.

This week the U8s Raiders travelled away to Heavitree Blues writes Chris Roberts.

The first game was a tight affair with Sidmouth defending well, but the stronger Heavitree Blues won through 2-0.

The second game Sidmouth came out much more determined and created most of the chances. Blues took the lead against the run of play, Sidmouth bounced back, resulting in a own goal from a good cross from Freddie Dorman. Sidmouth took the lead trough Oliver Loosemore only to be caught on the break-away again, 2-2 at half time.

In the second half Sidmouth dominated and were rewarded the winner when Charlie Roberts scrambled the ball home to secure the victory.

Sidmouth U8 Warriors 10, AC Heavitree 1

Warriors won the first of their two games in Exeter.

Samuel Rice scored a well-deserved hat-trick and lead the way with scintillating wing play and great goalscoring. Louis Silk and Stanley Richardson both scored two goals each, and Joe Ashby and Ben Chapman scored a goal a piece, with the other Warriors goal being an own goal.

Sidmouth Warriors 0, Inter Heavitree 1

Sidmouth slipped to a rare defeat but not due to lack of effort. In a closely fought encounter the Warriors came up against a determined Heavitree side, who defended excellently. Their great goalkeeper denied the Warriors at least the draw that their display deserved.