Sidbury Utd 3, Alphington 0

Eight games into their season and Sidbury are still unbeaten. Sidbury dominated this game from start to finish but had to be patient breaking down the Exeter side, who came to nick a point and played just one up front, four in midfield and a back five.

Sidbury saw plenty of the ball in the first half an hour and, despite moving it around the park well, struggled to break down the defence. Eventually Sam Elstub held the ball up just outside the corner of the 18 yards box, and played a super reverse pass to the overlapping left back Russ Coombs. He delivered a great cross for Dave Green to head in his ninth of season.

The Gulls continued to dominate the first half but couldn’t add to the tally. However they restricted Alphington to one chance which Jamie Harvey blocked.

After a few choice words at half time, Sidbury players stopped trying to do too much in the final third and began to make better decisions. When Dave Green was chopped down in the penalty area, he stepped up to score his 10th goal of the season and Sidbury’s second.

Sidbury were in total control, with both full backs playing as wingers and Mike Benyon running the show which earnt him joint Black Horse Man of the Match with Seldon. They continued to create chances with Ashley Small hitting a sweet swivelling volley only to see the away keeper make a great save and deny him his first for the club.

When Seldon had his shot blocked the ball fell to Dave Green who slotted away his third for his hat-trick and his 11th of the season to remain the club’s top scorer. Manger Jeremy Schofield said: “I was pleased with the win but I felt it was too easy for us and the lads tried doing too much on their own in the final third when there were better options. But three points is three points so I can’t moan too much”. This week Sidbury are home again, against local rivals East Budleigh 2.15KO.

Team Harvey 7, Churchill 7, Channing 8, Bacon 8, Coombs 8, Benyon 9, Salter 8, Seldon 9, Small 7, Green 8, Elstub 7 Subs Chatwood 6