Club bursting with teenage talent

Sidmouth Town have, for the first time this season, beaten a team which beat them last year. Thorverton, reigning champions, were a big target for manager Paul Ashford, and he was delighted with the 3-1 win.

“I knew it would show up how good we are and I am really pleased. We have a great bunch of players here, all wanting the same thing, all working hard,” he said.

While the average age of the club is spiralling downwards, there are still a few of what Ashford calls ‘the silver surfers’ and he says “they are a credit to themselves and the club. They show the youngsters that it’s not about age, it’s about committment and desire.”

Sidmouth went in at the break 1-0 up, thanks to a great goal from Ian Mortimore, and they came out firing after the break.

Kevin Dorman put Sidmouth 2-0 up with a great shot and Andy Isaac made it 3-0 with a terrific half volley.

Ashford knows that Sidmouth still have progress to make. They conceded a goal late in the game, but he was pleased to see how much that goal hurt the players.

“It is far too early to get excited, but we are a big club now and have everything going in our favour,” he said.

?This week the Vikings are in Devon Cup action at home to Plymouth side Mount Gould. If they can keep their discipline, the players will shine - and they will really need to keep it against a Plymouth side, and a cup match gives them something else to focus on.

Ashford added: “Mount Gould have been scoring a lot of goals so could prove a handful.”

Sidmouth 2nds bounced back from last week’s defeat by thumping Axminster 9-0 on their own patch.

The Vikings started well with Rory Weal and Craig Badcock bossing the midfield. Weal opened the scoring after a slick passing move after five minutes and the score was soon doubled when Jack Lewis latched onto a through ball to slip the ball under the advancing keeper.

Tom Perryman and Tim Lister were causing havoc in the wide positions and Perryman made it 3-0 with a well-taken goal after another flowing attack.

Jack Lewis got his second to put the Vikings into a well deserved 4-0 half time lead.

The 2nd half started with Sidmouth going for the jugular and three quick goals from Weal, Lewis and a Richard Lee header put the Vikings into a healthy lead. This gave Sidmouth the chance to bring on all three subs which kept the momentum going,

Weal completed his hat-trick with a well taken goal. Jack Lewis scored his fourth goal to finish the scoring.

There will be tougher tests ahead, but the pleasing thing was that Sidmouth kept a clean sheet and scored five second half goals, plus the fact that there were six 16/17 year olds involved which all looks good for the rest of the season.

Jack Lewis was Man of the Match.

? Sidmouth 2nds are away to The Royal Marines tomorrow.

Sidmouth v Axminster were: Craig Fitzhenry, Greg Chaplin, Nathan Brace, Richard Lee, Anthony Griffiths, Rory Weal, Craig Badcock, Tom Perryman, Tim Lister, Jack Lewis, Steve Brown.

Subs: Jules Hudson, Matt Colson, Alex Martin, Charlie Nicolle