Sidmouth third team were 5-2 winners when they travelled to Mid Devon for the second successive Saturday.

Sidmouth third team were 5-2 winners when they travelled to Mid Devon for the second successive Saturday.

Bickleigh Reserves proved to be a touch opponent in both meetings last season.

Once again the Vikings made a sluggish start and the home team took advantage and, after a sustained period of pressure, the Town defence finally gave way for the home side to take a 15th minute lead.

The goal drew a good response from Town and suddenly there was renewed energy to their play with the well-timed runs of Ollie Turton giving the home side plenty to think about.

One such run was rewarded with a penalty that Town skipper Ben Squance took – and missed!

However, any fears that the meeting with Bickleigh was going to be ‘one of those days’, was quickly dispelled when a piece of individual magic from young Turton saw the ball fly past the Bickleigh goalkeeper to level things up.

Moments later a thunderbolt volley from Richard Johnson put Sidmouth on top. The Sidmouth pressure continued and it was no more than they deserved when a third was added via the head of Ben Miller and Town went into the break with a 3-1 lead.

The early second half exchanges belonged to the home side and they got a second goal to suddenly change the dynamic of the game.

However, just as just as the Sidmouth management began to fret, another wonderful goal, this time from a long-range Al Forsyth shot, eased the nerves and restored the Town two goal lead.

Suddenly Sidmouth looked imperious again and in the closing moments another well placed shot from Ollie Turton extended the Sidmouth lead and gave the score line a rather more comfortable appearance.

Special praise must go to Al Forsyth whose energy and determination in central midfield was the bedrock of this victory. The Man of the Match honour simply has to be bestowed upon Ollie Turton whose goals and intelligently judged runs changed the course of the game.

This coming Saturday (November 5), Sidmouth host Exmouth Spartans at Manstone Lane (2.15pm) for what is likely to be a very competitive league game.