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East Budleigh 3, Langdon Reserves 2

This was a better display from East Budleigh Reserves who ran out winners against Langdon last Saturday by the odd goal in five, writes Mark Auton.

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Budleigh settled well, Player Manager Colin Jeans saw an early effort clear the bar before his side took a 19th minute lead; Andy Case delivered a peach of a corner and it was Joe Rosser that came in a the back post to force the ball into the roof of the net.

Moments later Jack Howarth went close to a second lifting the ball over the visiting keeper but over the bar as well.

In the 27th minute Neil Kearsley rose well to head in a Case free-kick, but was denied by an offside flag.

Typically, three minutes later Langdon levelled with their first meaningful attempt.

A minute before half-time Budleigh restored their advantage when Kearsley deservedly scored from a Ben Wyatt centre.

Eight minutes after the re-start Budleigh keeper Mark Bown was left exposed and the Dawlish side duly made it 2-2.

But Budleigh weren’t to be denied and when Kearsley and Ben Wyatt combined to put Howarth through he kept his nerve to score Budleigh’s third.

The visitors always felt they had a chance and Budleigh’s back four of Rich Wyatt, Case, Pete ‘the pole’ and Adam Wheatley had to soak up some late pressure.

New signing Darren Everest came off the bench along with Dan Atkinson and Tom Christian for a Budleigh side who saw Bown make a fine late save to preserve the win.

Steve Davey and Howarth both went close to a fourth, but three was enough to win the points.

Ben Wyatt was voted man of the Match for a Budleigh side that are without a fixture this weekend.

The First X1 saw their game postponed at Culm due to a waterlogged pitch and will return to action this Saturday when they play host to Heavitree Social Club in Division 1 (3pm).