SIDMOUTH Town gained league retribution against Budleigh Salterton.

SIDMOUTH Town gained league retribution against Budleigh Salterton, who had knocked them out of the Morrison Bell Cup in a midweek under lights clash at Greenway Lane. But they didn't have the brightest of starts and it was a surprise when Ben Balentine popped up to put the Vikings 1-0 ahead. Manager Paul Ashford said: " We were slow out of the blocks - I think our new changing rooms may be too comfortable - but Ben scored a cracker to put us ahead." Balentine was soon in amongst it again, getting a second from a well- delivered free kick. Sidmouth started to look a better outfit at that point, but Budleigh were back in it early in the second half when they converted a penalty. With 15 minutes to go, Sean Lapping got the third goal for the Vikings. "We should have gone on and scored more, capitalising on the fact that Budleigh aren't at their strongest at the weekends but, overall, I am delighted with how things are going," added Ashford. "We have players wanting to join us now, I have a decent squad and the full support of the committee and if we could just get to the point where we had full availability it would be fantastic!" l This week Sidmouth face a real grass roots test against Otterton away. l Jason Stiling has joined the coaching team at Manstone Lane.