CREDITON UNITED 3 - MIDDLEZOY ROVERS 1

A FINE win for Crediton as they overcame first time visitors from West Somerset in a South East Peninsula League East clash.

On a difficult surface Crediton always looked the more enterprising side and it was two goals from Lukey White that turned the tide on the verge of half time.

Middlezoy came out of the blocks quickly and in the first minute when the teams had barely woken a catastrophic error from the usually imperious Kevin Pike gifted the opening goal to the visitors.

Whatever world Pikey was inhabiting was not this one and despite being under no pressure kindly passed the ball to the lurking Middlezoy striker who gasped in astonishment before stroking the ball into an empty net, 0-1. Poor old Pikey.

However as the game trundled on he definitely made up for this aberration and contributed to what became a good win.

Middlezoy presented themselves as a physical proposition and time after time a Crediton player was felled, but they still managed to be responsible for most of the football as attack after attack was mounted on the Rovers net.

Then just as the game was drifting into Green nowhere a wonderful drive from the edge of the area by Callum Woodman flew into the bottom left hand corner and Crediton were level, 1-1 after 15 minutes.

Crediton were now in the ascendancy and with the keeper running out of his area and leaving the goal empty Lukey White shot home as the ball frustratingly for the away side, dribbled into the goal, 2-1 after 35 minutes.

Then as half time beckoned Lukey added his second as he successfully lobbed the goalie for 3-1.

Middlezoy were looking shell shocked at the home team’s comeback and we’re glad of the arrival of half time.

The second half was an even affair as the away side appeared to have the bit between their teeth and started to play with a lot more guile and determination.

The young goalie who had seemed a little overwhelmed in the first half now played out of his skin and the score stayed as it was at half time, but still Crediton came forward and spurned some great chances as Middlezoy continued to look vulnerable from the sudden break.

The ball would not go in though and the game started to fizzle out, causing some of us to look fondly at our watches.

Eventually it was over and Crediton had a 3-1 win under their belt and now prepare for the visit of fellow Somerset side Bishops Lydeard. Well done to the lads for this victory.

Crediton team: Chalk, Woodman, Knight, Lee, Warren, Pike, Khadaroo, Bond, Ord, White and Stapleton. Subs: Hale, Stephens, Silley and Tootel.

Man of the Match: Ethan Chalk.

The club was established in 1910, holding its first general meeting on September 10, and immediately joined the Exeter and District League.

The club moved to its Lords Meadow ground in 1976.

Paul Whittle