Report

Exeter & District Youth Football League
Under 13 Division 1

Dawlish United u13’s made tough work to secure a victorious season finale against bottom placed Crediton Saints.

Dawlish, no doubt, were odds on to run up an emphatic victory but were made to work hard by a home side who, this season, had lost all their leagues matches.

Dawlish started brightly and play with a confidence, which had been lacking in recent games, with plenty of movement allowing for crisp passing to feet which ensure they retained possession.

This diligent work failed to breach the Crediton defence and whenever the home side gained the ball looked to attack and kept the Dawlish rearguard on their toes.

Dawlish finally cracked the home team’s defence on the 18^th minute mark.  Midfielder Elliot Keirle sent a quick pass out wide and it look like it would be safely cleared but striker Jamie Middleton thought otherwise and harried the Crediton defender and won possession and calmly slotted from a very tight angle.

United sensed blood and upped their game and within minutes nearly had a second as Max Armitage jinked through the defending line to go one on one with keeper only to hit the resulting shot straight at the keeper.

The Crediton defence was creaking and on 22 minutes, man of the match, Middleton assertively passing the defence to score his 16^th league goal, and taking the leading goal scorer’s season tally in all competitions to 17.

Dawlish’s lead was cut in half within 90 seconds when a Crediton player was adjudged to have been brought down illegally in the box.  Shot stopper Sam Neal got close but was unable to keep out the subsequent penalty kick.

With the break approaching some good inter passing between Nathan Rowland, who had a busy game tracking down the flank, and Corrie Cleeve produced some good attacking play but the end product wasn’t produced and this attack petered out.

The second period was sloppy again saw Dawlish have most of the possession but frustratingly failed to make inroads and the home side’s confidence grew and looked dangerous when the attacked but the Dawlish defence remained rock solid.

At the game entered the final 15 minutes Dawlish picked up the pace and pushed on looking to tie up the win.  Dawlish almost got a third from the head of Chris Petherick but was denied by the home side keeper.

This was how it remained at this whistle and this win meant Dawlish final league position was 7^th.

A special mention should go to Sam Wright and Nathan Rowland.  Both achieved in starting every full competitive match, which speaks volume in regard to their effort and commitment throughout the season.