Budleigh Salterton were beaten 5-1 on their visit to St Martins for their latest South West Peninsula League Eastern Division outing, but the final score really does not reflect the 90 minutes of action, writes Alan Beer.

The Robins gave as good as they got for long periods of the contest and, with a little more luck, would have gone in at the break with a 2-1 lead rather than the 3-0 score line they sat on during the interval.

St Martins took a 13th minute lead when Budleigh goalkeeper Alan Doble was adjudged to have hauled down Ben Watson, who got up and slotted the penalty.

Seven minutes later Budleigh were close to an equaliser when a terrific effort from Matt Ansell flew fractionally over the bar and then they were even closer to levelling soon after when John Nott saw his header come back off the upright!

The game changed on the half-hour when, for a two minute spell, the Budleigh defence ‘went missing’ and the home side took full advantage with Bradley Riggs netting with a free header before, almost straight from the re-start, Budleigh lost possession and another Riggs finish left the hosts 3-0 up at the break.

Just before the hour mark Budleigh got the goal their all-round contribution to an entertaining game deserved when the lively Ansell and Nott combined prior to home defender Jamie Harkness touching the ball past his own glovesman.

Five minutes later, Nott ran onto an excellent through-ball, but his shot, which beat the ‘keeper hit, but cannoned back off the frame of the goal.

As Budleigh continued to press they were caught twice late on with goals from Stuart Davies and substitute Jake Chisholm ultimately consigning them to a 5-1 defeat.

In a solid all-round display, Matt Ansell caught the eye of the Robins who are without a game this Saturday. They return to action on Saturday week (December 1) when they entertain North Devon-based Fremington in the last eight of the Devon Premier Cup (2pm).