CREDITON UNITED 1 - CULLOMPTON RANGERS 3

CREDITON came out well second best in this Walter C Parsons Cup semi-final played at Honiton on Tuesday, March 25.

Although they rallied in the second half they were overwhelmed by a combination of the skill and swiftness of Cullompton and by the over zealousness of the referee.

This was never going to be an easy fixture. Cullompton have beaten Crediton twice already this season scoring 10 goals in all and along with Sidmouth are clearly one of the best sides in the league this year.

In the first half Crediton were completely swamped as Cully stormed forward and Ethan Chalk’s goal was under constant pressure.

After only two minutes Aidan Whitfield was booked for a clumsy challenge just outside the penalty area and this would prove crucial later on.

Time and again the men in red pressed forward and it looked inevitable that they would score but a combination of poor finishing and determined defending meant that the score stayed goalless.

Crediton were having difficulty in hanging on to the ball and chances were few so as the teams ended play after 45 minutes the score was still 0-0.

The second half was a quite different affair and it only took two minutes for Cullompton to open the scoring as, after a sweeping move the ball was turned in by Lewis Hill at the far post to make the score 1-0.

It was no more than they deserved and almost instantly a clumsy challenge from Aidan resulted in a sending off and Crediton were down to 10.

It was only his second foul of the game and the ref had no choice really as he had been booked as early as the second minute.

This disaster only seemed to spur Crediton on however and they managed to create the odd chance.

Then, a crucial couple of minutes as firstly Lukey White scooped the ball over from just outside the six yard box and almost immediately Cully made Crediton pay as a diving header from Aiden Horne made the score 2-0.

This didn’t stop Kirton pushing forward but Cullompton now had control of the game and although Zak Khadaroo scored for the men in blue after a terrific through ball from Lukey and making the score 2-1 the game was travelling in a predictable direction.

Louis Stephens was also red carded and Crediton were down to nine men and after the ensuing fracas that followed, Kevin Pike was sin binned meaning that Crediton would finish the game with eight players.

Brayden Morris added a third for Cullompton on the stroke of full time making the final score 3-1.

Cullompton will now play Penzance in the final.

Congratulations to Crediton for getting this far but discipline should have been better and then things may have been different but Cullompton were worthy winners. A crowd of 207 attended the match.

Crediton team: Chalk, Whitfield, Knight, Lee, Pike, Warren, Stephens, Khadaroo, Burwood, White and Stapleton. Sub: Ord.

Man of the Match. Zak Khadaroo.

Paul Whittall