Following the trauma and disappointment of the previous week, Budleigh Salterton Reserves manager Alan Barnsley was still struggling to put a side together for last Friday’s evening clash away at Clyst Valley Reserves, writes, SpursTom.

Thankfully, every cloud has a silver lining or two, and, in the Robins case, the silver lining was that both Aaron Denny and Darren Everest, who volunteered to play (even though they were due to be involved in another match on Saturday).

The manager originally added himself to the starting eleven before successfully registering 49-year-old Shaun Slater and his 16-year-old son Ethan - Shaun last played for Budleigh 15 years ago!

The mixture of youth, vast experience and the skills of Denny bamboozled the hosts who were stunned by a Denny hat-trick inside the opening 14 minutes!

Clyst Valley pulled one back from the penalty spot, but the Robins struck three more courtesy of an own goal, a fine finish from Ethan Slater and a fourth from Denny. The hosts ended the half with their second, but the Robins sat on a 6-2 lead at half-time.

The second period continued with the visiting Robins in total command, Shaun Slater orchestrated things from central midfield, where he was also a calming influence on the youngsters.

Harry Gibbings began the second half scoring before a brace from Lucas Feduzi and a fifth from Denny powered the Robins into a 10-2 lead!

Clyst Valley scored a third, but their net was soon bulging again as Denny scored his sixth and then seventh to seal an impressive 12-3 success.

Apart from the eye-catching seven goals from Denny, the game also saw two sets of ‘Father-and-son’ combinations with Robins boss Alan Barnsley getting a second half outing to play in the same eleven as son Kyle.

Was that a first for the club? Maybe there’s something amongst the dusty Robins archives!

Next up for the Robins Reserves is a Saturday (April 28) away game at Crediton United Reserved.