A double from Liam Carey, including a stunning 94th minute winner, saw the Vikings overcome unbeaten Peninsula League leaders Ivybridge at Manstone Lane.
The game was only seven minutes old when Carey gave the Vikings the lead direct from a free kick, which he hammered low into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Six minutes later, the lead was doubled as Nathan Cooper robbed the Ivybridge midfielder of the ball and then calmly slotted past the ‘keeper.
It was all one way traffic and if it wasn’t for Kane Gregory in the Ivy goal the scoreline would have been greater but he made three great saves to keep out Louis Jagger Cane. On the stroke of half-time, it should have been 3-0 when Zach Lee’s direct kick found Jagger Cane free but his soft effort was easily claimed by Gregory.
The second half began with Ivybridge controlling the ball but Sidmouth defending soundly and protecting their 2-0 lead. However, on the 55th minute Jack Alexander got a goal back with a stunning strike from range, which flew into the top corner.
Ivybridge were sustaining pressure on the Vikings back line and won a penalty following a tackle from skipper Jamie Vaughan-Ryall, where he seemed to have won the ball. Jake Lane cooly dispatched the ball into the net, a double blow for the Vikings as Ben Lawrence was sin-binned for 10 minutes.
Going down to 10 seemed to galvanise Sidmouth and substitute Tom Bray made very impressive impact off the bench and was unlucky not to pick up three assists. He crossed superbly for the head of Jagger Cane who timed his run to perfection but lacked belief in his header and it went wide.
Ivybridge escaped the let off and thought they had taken the lead when Luke Forward rolled a ball into the bottom corner but Lee produced a stunning save to keep the scores level.
In the 88th minute, Ivybridge were reduced to 10 men when a forceful challenge from Bailey Gamble saw him sent packing.
With the game destined for a draw, Bray finally got his deserved assist when his cross was partially cleared to Carey who hammered a shot low across the ground from 25 yards off the post and in, sparking wild celebrations.
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