It all comes together for Stoke in thrashing of Crediton

PENINSULA LEAGUE DIVISION ONE EAST

Stoke Gabriel manager Nick Milton hailed Friday night’s seven-goal demolition of Crediton United as their best performance of the season so far.

Stoke took the lead through Josh Webber’s 12th minute goal before Crediton goalkeeper Ben Dommett was red carded for a denying a goalscoring opportunity.

Player-manager Matt Trenaman took over in goal, and he was soon picking the ball out of the net following Webber’s free kick to make it 2-0.

Kevin Dadd’s header made it three and further goals from Nathan Hebbes, Ollie Critchlow (2) and Webber completed the rout as second-placed Stoke kept the pressure on leaders Elmore, who were 3-2 winners at Sidmouth Town.

Milton said: “It was by far the best all round performance of the season. I have felt even when winning games we were just playing at 70 per-cent.

“Against Crediton we started the game with a high tempo and they really couldn't live with us.

“When you look at how we scored, with wide players scoring, strikers scoring and defenders scoring from set pieces it really shows what a real team performance it was.”

Bovey Tracey manager Will Small admitted there is still plenty of room for improvement after seeing his side waste a number of chances as they beat Torridgeside 2-1 at Mill Marsh Park.

Sean Finch and Charlie Johansen scored the goals for Small’s men, who conceded a goal late on, and were indebted to goalkeeper Josh Nicol who produced some good saves to secure the points.

Small said: “We made hard work of it. We were slow to start and Sean scored for us against the run of play.

“After that we dominated for long periods and Charlie scored the second.

“After that we had plenty of chances to kill the game but we were wasteful in front of goal.

“Torridgeside then went with three up top and managed to get a late goal which meant we were hanging on a bit at the end.

“Thanks to our young keeper Josh Nicol we held on and came away with the points.

“There’s plenty of room for improvement with tough games ahead this week.”

Brixham AFC are up to fifth in the table after winning 3-2 at Honiton at the weekend.

They led at the break through Chris Newnham’s goal, before Scott Robinson and Carl Bradley added further goals to put the visitors in control.

Ben Ede and Chris Long pulled it back to 3-2 but Brixham hung on for their fifth win of the season.

They were are at Bovey Tracey tonight (Wednesday) and have sealed the signings of Robbie Bowker and Ryan O’Callaghan ahead of the game from Stoke – those two players will seriously strengthen Jason Couch’s squad.

Mark Voisey scored two second half goals to rescue a point for Newton Abbot Spurs in their 2-2 draw with Appledore.

Ben Whitecross had given the visitors a two-goal lead, before Voisey’s impressive second half intervention.

Waldon Athletic also had a share of the spoils after twice coming from behind in their 2-2 draw at Division One East champions St Martins.

Fred Kingdom gave the Saints an early lead, but Waldon drew level midway through the half thanks to Brian Doughty’s equaliser.

Kingdom scored his second to restore the St Martins lead, but back came Waldon again as Rui Garces rescued a point with five minutes remaining.

Tonight Waldon are away at Sidmouth Town.

Action from Bovey Tracey’s win against Torridgeside on Saturday

Teignmouth , who are also in action tonight at Elmore, suffered their fourth defeat of the season after losing 2-1 at home to Axminster Town – in a game which was marred by a broken leg suffered by Axminster’s Jamie Newberry.

After a 45 minute delay, the game resumed and Tony Pinder gave Axminster the lead.

Hayden Rowe brought Teignmouth level with a 64th minute header, before Pinder scored again with a spectacular 30-yard half volley.

Struggling at the bottom of the table, Liverton United remain pointless after seven games after going down to a 7-0 defeat at home to North Devon visitors Ilfracombe Town.

United have now conceded 36 goals and a firmly rooted to the foot of the Division One East table – it’s going to be a tough season at Halford.

Chris Roberts scored a hat-trick, with Jamie Mirow, Joe Seldon, Ollie Stevens and Simon Larcombe also on target for Town.

Andy Uglow/Pyramid