Tipton St John signed off before the Macron League two-week festive break with a narrow 2-1 home defeat at the hands of Budleigh Salterton Reserves.

Tipton made a strong start and scored a fourth minute goal with Jonny Heavey the scorer.

They held the advantage through until half-time. However, the visitors made a flying start to the second half, equalising within 30 seconds of the restart!

Tipton, who had been the better side for almost the entire first half, were clearly set back by the early second half equaliser and went onto play second fiddle for much of the remainder of the game with the visitors netting a 74th minute winner.

The defeat leaves Tipton dropping below Budleigh in the table and they spend this Christmas second bottom of the Division Two table.

They return to action on Saturday, January 7, when they entertain second placed Lapford who beat them 7-0 when the sides met in Mid Devon back in October.