Seaton Town Under-13s land top-of-the-table win at Stoke Hill

Stoke Hill 1, Seaton Town 2 Seaton Town Under-13s gave their hopes of finishing as runners-up a huge boost with a deserved success in Exeter against the second placed hosts.

What made the Town triumph all the more remarkable was that they travelled with just ten players for the top-of-the-table clash!

Town made a bright start and went ahead in the 16th minute when Olly Upperdine outpaced two players before cutting inside to provide a slide-rule pass to Jake Matthews who thumped the ball home.

With Matthew tasked to play the role of two players in the forward line – something he did with aplomb - the home side did not realise that Town were a man light until midway through the first half!

The home side countered, but got little change out of the organised Town defence of Taylor Rooke, Matthew Lloyd-Davies, Liam Cox and Aaron Chadwick who, along with the midfield of Will House, Jay Catley and Sam Waddon restricted their opportunities to level. A wonderful save by Town gloves man Elliott Driver kept his side ahead, but he was beaten by a powerful header just before the break and the teams went into half-time on level terms.

After the break Stoke Hill had a more of the ball and hit the crossbar twice, whilst young Driver made three good saves.

The match deciding moment arrived when the impressive Upperdine was felled out on the touchline.

Matthews delivered the free-kick to the far post and Sam Waddon made a valiant bid to get on the end of it. He didn’t, but his movement had occupied the Stoke Hill keeper sufficiently for him to take his eye from the flight of the ball which sailed into the net!

The home side powered back, but once more the Town back line closed ranks to the see the game out.

Upperdine was named the Town Man of the Match.