Sidmouth Town manager Richard Pears will be back in the Town dugout for tomorrow’s trip to St Martins having missed the past three games whilst away on holiday.

In his absence the side has been looked after by assistant managers Kevin Tooze and Gary Carpenter and the Vikings have done well, taking four points from two games and making progress in the Walter C Parsons Funeral Directors Cup.

The three matches have also seen Town score no fewer than 18 goals! Speaking the morning after the night before and the 12-2 Manstone Lane drubbing of Liverton, Kevin Tooze said: “We did what can only be called a professional job on a Liverton side that I actually felt sorry for. By that I mean, and speaking as a long-standing ‘football person’, it’s never nice when you see a team struggling as they were with the manager having to play and the assistant manager forced to run the line as they pitched up with what was clearly a bare 11.”

He continued: “That said, when the whistle goes you simply have to get on with your work and we did that well and scored some decent goals. Mind you, we were much improved in the second half.

“You are never ‘totally happy’ as a coach and a manager unless your side has had one of those extraordinary 90 minutes and that was not the case in this game for, at 2-0 up, we did have a period when we ‘switched off’ and allowed Liverton to gain strength – and bag a couple of goals – but for me, the outcome of the contest was never going to be in doubt.

“As for them [Liverton], I genuinely wish them well. I gather they were missing a number of regulars, so hopefully they will be able to get through this grim time for them and go on to prosper during the remainder of the campaign.”

Last Saturday there was more of the same from Town as they set up a League Cup second round tie at home to Axminster Town after their 3-2 win at Alphington in a match that was not as close as the finals score suggests.

Town’s Kevin Tooze explained, saying: “For 75 minutes, in Exeter, we were excellent. Indeed the lads served up a performance that had in it everything we ask of them. We were swift and decisive in both passing and movement and we scored some clinical goals. They scored two late goals to give the final score a ‘close look’ about it, but in reality we were worthy winners and it certainly sets up a mouth-watering cup clash next month.”

Speaking about the three cup ties on successive October Saturdays, Tooze says: “There’s no doubt that the big one and the one that will draw all the attention is the FA Vase tie at Cadbury Heath.

“It’s testament to the squad we have put together that they are going into October looking to make progress in three different cup competitions on three Saturdays in a row. We also have some tough league games to negotiate, but the simple fact is that life at Sidmouth Town right now is very good.

“The players are delivering quality on the pitch and the club continues to develop and build off the pitch. These are exciting times and good times to be involved with the football club.”