DURING the May Bank Holiday weekend two North Tawton Youth Football teams ventured to Tiverton Town FC to play on the Exeter and District Youth League Finals.
On Saturday afternoon the Under 15’s took on CS Pumas in the Exeter and District Under 15’s Plate final.
After a difficult season North Tawton went into the game as underdogs and after the first 10 minutes it looked as if that would be the case finding themselves 2-0 down after giving away a couple of sloppy goals.
To their credit they pulled a goal back through Ciaran Nicks after a long ball over the top from Will Hallett which was cooly finished by Nicks.
Unfortunately not long after CS Pumas broke through and scored a deflected goal past the wrong-footed Duffy in goal to take a well-deserved 3-1 lead at half-time.
After the half-time team talk North Tawton came out a different side and pressed hard to get a goal back.
After a determined spell that goal came from a corner from Nicks that was headed home by Hallett from close range with just a few minutes on the clock remaining.
Unfortunately the comeback was not to be and CS Pumas ran out 3-2 winners.
A huge amount of credit to the players and to their coach Graham Sercombe who never gave up hope and battled to the final whistle.
On the Sunday morning it was the turn of North Tawton Under 10’s to face Brixington Blues in the final of the Exeter and District Under 10’s Cup Competition.
In front of a vocal crowd the game got off to a fairly even start. Brixington were happy to shoot from distance where North Tawton were more suited to counter attacking football.
North Tawton survived a scare when a long range effort cannoned off the cross bar but the players were certain Patrick Evans in goal had it covered anyway.
Not long after that scare North Tawton broke and after a low shot from James Wonnacott that the Brixington goalkeeper parried into the path of Alfie Kemp who calmly finished to put North Tawton 1-0 up four minutes before half-time.
The second half continued to be fairly equal with Brixington hitting the bar again after a deflected effort. North Tawton were always looking threatening on the break but unable to secure the vital second goal.
As it was, a sterling defensive effort from Joe Ward ably supported by his two central midfield players Isaac Hillier and Samuel Weldon, North Tawton held firm to run out 1-0 winners to lift the trophy.
The club would like to thank all supporters that made the trip to Tiverton to cheer the boys on and add to a fantastic atmosphere for the teams.