Crediton United 0  Buckland Athletic 1

WITH the sudden departure of managers, Ben Watson and Jack Furzer, to Barnstaple Town it was left to the Crediton FC team to pick themselves up and overcome the hurdle of Buckland Athletic. 

After the wonderful performance against Exeter City last month there was surely hope of yet another victory for the Kirton.

A virtually unchanged side apart from the fact there was no Nelson Iseguan, Crediton played their usual game of fast passing football and they opened the match looking very dangerous against their Western League opponents from Newton Abbot. 

Chances came and went. 

Harvey Dorothy and Luke White both made inroads into the penalty area but saw their shots saved and apart from brief expeditions from the Buckland lads, Crediton looked in control. With Adam Bilcock and Dave Lee in particular driving forward it felt like only a question of time before the breakthrough came but by the end of the first half the match was still goalless. 

The crucial moment of the game came just two minutes into the second half as the ball bobbled around in the Crediton box before coming off the left hand post from where it was followed in for 0-1. 

Buckland looked increasingly comfortable and as the half progressed they began to close the game down. 

The long ball started to appear from the home side and this didn’t have the desired effect of leading to a goal. 

Buckland made three substitutions bringing on more senior players to close the game down, and this they did. 

Crediton brought on Shay Corrick, Alfie Down and Louis Stephens but were still unable to unlock the Buckland defence. 

The match started to get a bit untidy but Buckland hung on to their victory, which they just about deserved. 

Good luck to the new management team and from myself I would like to wish Ben Watson and Jack Furzer all the very best as they go on to pastures new. 

They have given us 18 months of wonderful progressive football played by what must be the youngest squad in the division. 

It has been an absolute joy watching Crediton and to be third in the league at this stage is a massive achievement for our club.

Crediton team: Chalke, Whitfield, Knight, Lee, Johnson, Pike, White, Dorothy, Warren, Bilcock and Stapleton.

Man of the match: Kevin Pike.

Paul Whittall