U12s - Sidmouth Warriors vs Sidmouth Raiders,

THIS was the ultimate cup derby - Sidmouth’s evenly-matched U12 sides drawn against one another. The Warriors had recent bragging rights, but the Raiders much to prove... game on, writes Alex Spalding

For the Warriors the first 10 seconds didn’t go to plan - losing the ball from the start, the boys ball-watched as the Raiders played a great pass through the defence which Louis Adey ran onto and finished perfectly.

Unbowed, the Warriors gathered themselves, started to play football, Jordan Watts going close twice. In one goalmouth scramble, they hit both posts without the ball crossing the line, and Oran Bramble pulled off great saves. At the other end a trademark sliding tackle from James Emmett kept the deficit to one.

Only 1-0 down at half-time the Warriors had everything to play for. A passionate half-time team-talk got the Warriors going, and, within 10 minutes of the restart, they were 5-1 up. Louis Spalding’s equaliser started the goal-rush. The attacking trio of Jacob Rice, Spalding, Plowden sliced through the Raiders’ defence, putting Jay Harris through twice, then Rice and Jordan Watts, one memorable end-to-end move sparked by keeper Jack Syradd’s accurate clearance.

Cue a Raiders come-back. Ben Goodier took skilful control of midfield, always involved for two quick goals from Luke Spiller to make it 5-3, and it would have been four but for a spectacular overhead goal-line clearance from Toby Garrick.

By now the touchline was alive. Then, Jay Harris put away a sixth for the Warriors - his hat-trick. While Raider Louis Adey scored an awesome long-ranger with two minutes to go it was too late to pull level - the match finished 6-4 with nine goals in the second half alone.

There were smiles all round on the touchline and both teams showed what a fantastic match it was, played and supported with generosity and passion. It can safely be said that Sidmouth Town FC was the winner, with the Warriors delighted to carry the town’s hopes into the quarter finals.

Sidmouth Town U14s 1,

Cullompton Rangers 4

(Under-15 League Cup)

Sidmouth Town bowed out of the Under-14 League Cup when they fell to defeat to cup holders Cullompton Rangers.

It was always going to be a tough ask for Town who went into the game without three influential players, Johnny Dunn, Freddie King and regular glovesman Will Down, all missing through injury.

When the two sides had met in a league game in Mid Devon earlier in the season Town won 2-0 to maintain a record of having never lost a competitive match to Rangers.

Trailing 2-0, Town were back in the contest when Ben Miller finished off a fine move. That was to be as good as it got as the visitors netted twice more to ease their way to victory and a place in the last eight of the competition.

Jamie Newbery and Jack De Winton were the stand-out Sidmouth performers. Coach Jon Miller said: “No complaints, the best side on the day won. Full marks to Andy Rawlings (Rangers’ coach), he has got his team playing some smashing football. We clearly missed the presence of the three injured lads.”

Sidmouth Town U14s 4, Honiton 3

Sunday saw the under-14s host a fiercely competitive derby match with Honiton, and, having lost to the side 5-0 earlier in the season, edged a seven- goal thriller.

Manager Sean Murphy was buzzing, saying: “I could not be any prouder of the boys; their work rate, and never-say-die attitude was first class. Credit must also go to Honiton who contributed just as much to the best match at youth level I have seen in quite a while.”

Honiton started brightly, pushing the back four of Tom Orchard, Jamie Newbery, Jonny Surtees and Matt Jones back. Off the pitch was a different matter as their manager was sent from the touchline inside the first 10 minutes of the game.

This, however, didn’t affect the team and five minutes later they scored from a penalty.

Sidmouth soon found their feet, but Honiton got a second on a breakaway. Sidmouth rallied again and before half time a terrific run and cross from Ed Doble found Connor Murphy on his own in the box and he scored.

Within five minutes of the restart, Honiton regained their two-goal advantage. It was short lived as a terrific 40 yard pass from Orchard found Doble who buried the ball in the net. Sidmouth went in search of an equaliser, and they thought they had it when Joe Miller finished a great move only to see the linesman’s flag raised. Miller managed to get on the scoresheet with 10 minutes to go.Honiton were always dangerous but Sidmouth smelt victory and with just 10 seconds left on the clock Doble scrambled the ball over to complete the comeback.

Manager Sean Murphy said: “Midway through the first half I did start to think it wasn’t going to be our day again, just goes to show what I know doesn’t it. Every single one of those boys put a real shift in today and they got their rewards. Hopefully, we can kick on from here and put pressure on the teams above us and finish as high in the league as possible,because on todays showing we are more than a match for anybody”