SANDFORD FC First team travelled to Topsham to play Exeter University Seconds in a Premier league game on Saturday, October 7.
It was going to be a tough fixture judging by past results and their fitness.
From the start the students went on the attack using the width of their rather large pitch to good effect.
It was eight minutes before Sandford got their first chance at goal, which fell to captain Darren Hughes, who shot over.
After 10 minutes of university pressure they went one up with a low shot into the righthand corner of the Sandford net (1-0).
The visitors drew level 14 minutes later when a lovely through ball allowed Owen Gregory to score making it 1-1.
Halfway through the half the teams took a well deserved water break, after which Sandford went ahead when Darren Hughes scored to make it 1-2.
As the game moved towards half-time the students broke down the righthand side and a mistake in the visitors defence allowed them to score. Making it 2-2 at half-time.
Sandford made a substitution taking Owen off and bringing on young Greg Mildon to play up front.
The visitors were really playing some lovely football and holding the home side, whose finishing was a bit poor, plus young Jeb in goal was having another fine match.
On 59 minutes Sam Reeves slotted home to make the score 2-3 to Sandford.
As the game continued the students fitness started to show and Sandford began to struggle.
On 65 minutes one of the visitor’s best moves of the game resulted in left winger Tudor Morgan-Hugget hitting the post with the keeper well beaten.
Then on 79 minutes right winger Darren Hughes had a glorious chance to seal the match for Sandford, but blazed his shot high over the bar.
Two minutes from normal time the students drew level when some poor defence let them in to score (3-3).
Both sides had chances after this but at full-time the result was a 3-3 draw.
A great away point which could have been more, but a great improvement on their previous game.
This coming Saturday (October 14) the First team is at home to Lyme Regis with a 3pm kick-off.
Sandford Seconds
The Seconds travelled to Bideford to play Kingsley Park First team in the A and S Intermediate cup and came away with a great 3-5 result with goals by Jake Burrow, James Davis, Pat Phillips and two from Ryan Trump.
Well done to Brad and the boys.
They return to league action away to Witheridge on Saturday, October 28 with a 3pm kick-off.
A J H