Sidmouth Town went down 4-0 in their South West Peninsula League East Division home game with Stoke Gabriel.

The Vikings were dealt two major blows on the morning of the game with goalkeeper Jack Burgess having to withdraw due to work commitments – Burgess is a fireman - and new signing Dexter Booth was forced to delay his debut due to a foot infection.

Town manager Josh Stunell called in former Sidbury United glovesman Jamie Harvey to replace Burgess and teamer Matt Ogley stepped up from the second team to replace Booth.

The visitors began with real intent and looked to attack at every opportunity. However, the Town back four, superbly marshalled by debut making Harvey, were equal to the task.

The opening goal arrived in the 25th minute and had a touch of fortune about it! From a corner kick, the ball fell to Sidmouth’s Dan Evans who was guarding the back post, inexplicitly Evans made a complete hash of his clearance and volleyed past the stranded Harvey!

This was a bitter blow for the Vikings who had defended well up to this point. The goal saw the visitors raise their game even more and they soon found their second after some tremendous wing play.

Town began the second half well and asked the away defence some serious questions. However, the visitors stood firm and this enabled them to frustrated the Vikings, scoring twice more with counter-attack goals, both involving un-earing pace and power.

In the 65th minute Sidmouth introduced young Ogley and the youngster rose to the occasion in central midfield demonstrating some excellent passing skills and some tenacious tackling, that really caught the eye.

Stoke continued to press and only exceptional goalkeeping from Harvey and last ditch tackles from Jamie Newbery saved the Vikings from a ‘right old hammering’.

Glovesman Harvey was named the Town Man of the Match. Vikings boss Josh Stunell said: “On the day we played quite well, but found Stoke Gabriel far too strong,

“Having seen that display I’d have to say that who ever finishes higher than Stoke Gabriel wins the league in my opinion.

“In my three seasons in charge at the club two teams have been far too good for us over 90 minutes. One was the University side of two seasons ago and the other is now this lot from Stoke Gabriel – fair play to them.”

Sidmouth: Harvey, White, Newbery (C), Clampin, Wellman, Evans, Jones, Antat, Binion, Burrows, Densham. Used Subs: Dobinson, Ogley and Badcott.

Start Man – Jamie Harvey