South West Peninsula League East
CREDITON gained a battling 2-0 victory over fifth placed Dartmouth in a bad-tempered affair at Lords Meadow as goals from Sam Stapleton and Louis Stephens brought home the bacon against the visitors.
This was a game of contrasting styles as it became obvious that Crediton’s touch passing game was going to be seriously challenged by the visitors whose attitude to this game was much more direct and physical.
They came with a management team who seemed more intent on arguing with the crowd and trying to win over the referee’s assessor who was sitting in the stand and they got even more grumpy as the tide started to turn against them.
Dartmouth were much tighter than many teams Crediton has seen this season, but this did not deter Crediton from adopting the passing game that has stood them in such great stead this season.
Oakley Bennett had a goal disallowed for offside and soon after Kieran Knight sent a free kick just wide as Crediton dominated the early stages.
A shot from Sam Stapleton was somehow kept out but still the home side remained scoreless.
This was the pattern of the first half as Dartmouth strove to keep the game scoreless.
Then just before half-time Ryan White was fouled in the area and despite the protests a penalty was given.
From the resultant spot kick taken by Adam Bilcock the goalkeeper guessed right and saved his goal bound effort.
The Dartmouth goalie was simply superb in the first half and made several brilliant saves to keep his side in the match.
However just before the break a perfect cross from Kevin Pike was picked out in particular style by Sam Stapleton and he scored, making it 1-0 at the break.
The second half was very evenly contested as Dartmouth came into the game.
A shot from Adam Bilcock, went just wide and Sam went close once more from a cross by Kevin Pike.
Crediton needed a second goal to make the game safe as Dartmouth increasingly looked capable of an equaliser.
Crediton made a couple of substitutions, and the young legs of Louis Stephens began to stretch the Dartmouth defence.
Crediton continued to press, and several crosses were put in but they failed to find a home striker.
Then with a couple of minutes to go Aidan Whitfield went on one of his mazy runs summoning up tremendous strength considering the game was 89 minutes old.
He forwarded the ball for Louis Stephens who poked the ball past the Darts goalie and the ball just summoned up enough strength to end up in the back of the net.
The relief was palpable and Crediton had kept yet another clean sheet. Okehampton had won 4-0 at Axminster so they lead Crediton by one point having played one game more.
Another battling performance against a tricky opponent. Great result lads.
Crediton team: McAndrew, Whitfield(c), Knight, Bilcock, Johnson, Preece, Howe, Bennett, White, Pike and Stapleton. Subs: Stephens and Radford.
Man of the match: Aidan Whitfield.
Paul Whittall