Budleigh versus Appledore action

Budleigh Salterton 5, Crediton United 1

After the weather-affected Christmas break had prevented any games being played, it was good to open the new year with a game and a handsome victory, writes Alan Beer.

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The opening 15 minutes saw the home side miss two good chances.

Mark Lever shot wide before a 25-yard strike from Brett Wright had visiting keeper Michael Searle scrambling to his right to save. Mid-way through the half

Searle saved a Danny Williams penalty awarded after Lever had been brought down.

As half time approached it looked as if the talk at the break would be about there being no goals, but all that changed when Carl Everest, cutting in from the left, had a thumping shot blocked only for the ball to strike a defender before nestling in the bottom corner of the net.

A minute later Wright crossed from a short corner and Lever’s header gave the keeper no chance to send Budleigh into the break with a two goal advantage.

A minute into the second half, man of the match, Mike Hancock, did well to get past the Crediton defence down the right side. He looked up and picked out Josh Sale who drilled in a low shot from 18-yards.

The visitors pulled a goal back when Lee Waring spotted Adrian Pullin off his line and lobbed in from just outside the area.

The Robins hit back when Liam Ellis set up player-boss Williams for a simple tap in from close range. Lever completed the scoring just before time when he met a right wing cross from Carr at the far post to head home.

The victory, a ninth in 17 Eastern Division matches, leaves Budleigh sitting second behind leaders Newton Abbot.

There’s more Greenway Lane action this Saturday with the visit of Stoke Gabriel (3pm).

Budleigh team: Pullin, Ellis, Hancock, Everest, Pallett, Nield (Carr), Sale (Schlaefli), Wright, Turner (Greenslade), Lever, Williams.