Sidmouth Warriors Under-12s made a winning start to their 2018 schedule with a 5-0 success against visiting West Exe Youth to move up to fourth in the Exeter and District Youth League Division One table.

With both teams going into the contest with similar records this season, a close encounter was expected.

The visitors began brightly and fashioned the first chance, which came from a counter-attack that ended with a shot that drew a terrific fingertip save by Warriors goalkeeper Anthony Nita.

Warriors, for their part, took a little while to get going, but once they had found their rhythm they began to move the ball with crispness and precision and, with that, the chances began to be created.

After a series of ‘near things’, Warriors broke the deadlock with the scorer being Finn Upsher, who first found himself space to turn and then run at the West Exe defence before calmly slotting the ball beyond the glovesman.

The goal gave Warriors increased confidence and it was not long before they dished up the ‘move of the game’!

It began with Thomas Fletcher firing an inch-perfect pass out to the right flank, where the ball was taken on by Will Pullman, who drilled a terrific low cross that was met by Ben Elsom to tap in from a couple of yards.

A third goal arrived before the break with Upsher netting his second to send his side into the interval with a 3-0 lead.

West Exe started the second half on the front foot, but much of the reason behind them being unable to find a way back into the game was down to the excellence of Warriors’ goalkeeper Nita!

There were chances at either end before Pulman grabbed a well-deserved goal – reward for his super shift as the target-man.

There was still time for one more goal and it was young Upsher who finished what he started, this time taking a pass from Fletcher before tucking it home to wrap up another hat-trick and round off a terrific team performance from Warriors.