Sidmouth & Ottery ladies thirds against Sidmouth & Ottery 4 (orange tops). Photo by Terry Ife ref shsp 6450-03-13TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24

Exe IV 2, Torbay 1

Two first half goals were sufficient to see Exe IV to victory in a thrilling encounter. In cold and wet conditions Exe made a lively start and opened the scoring in the early exchanges through striker Ellie Stroud.

The lead was doubled when a quickly taken free hit set Torbay on the back foot and Stroud struck with a fine individual goal to send Exe into the break two goals to the good.

In the second half Torbay came back strongly with some tenacious middle third play.

A powerful run by their centre half led to her scoring with a high aerial shot to halve the deficit.

Thereafter Exe closed the game out very well, denying Torbay time and space to deservedly win the game.

Now into the second half of the season and Exe are pleased to be welcoming new players of all ages - could this be the Middleton effect?