NORTH DEVON LEAGUE INTERMEDIATE ONE

Morwenstow 5 High Bickington 0

MORWENSTOW secured the league title after thrashing fellow promoted side High Bickington 5-0 at Shop Playing Field.

The Greens went into the game knowing only a win would see them leapfrog South Molton for the title, and the only 20 minutes were understandably cagey.

Morwenstow still created a few good chances but just could find a goal, Corrick Davies always being a threat down the right-hand side. 

However the visitors were soon down to ten men as Richie Armstrong was through on goal when a defender bought him down just outside the box, leaving the referee no option but to send him off. 

Morwenstow then pressed home their one-man advantage by scoring five minutes later when Jake Gilbert went through one on one and calmly finished into the far corner.

High Bickington form a guard of honour as Morwenstow go up to collect their medals.
High Bickington form a guard of honour as Morwenstow go up to collect their medals. (Morwenstow AFC)

The Greens kept pushing but it took until a minute before half-time to score their second when the ball broke to Cal Rogers who fired in from the edge of the box.

Morwenstow came out and kept pushing forward, bringing on three attacking subs in Tudor Placinta, Phil Horton and Normy Foster. 

It was Horton who bagged the third goal with a neat near post finish, before the same man grabbed his second of the game when the keeper threw the ball out straight to his feet and he fired it into the top corner. 

The visitors kept pushing but could not break down the defence of Mark Skelton, Aaron Kendall, Jack Savage and Will Bryant, and it was then left to Normy Foster to put the icing on the cake with a trademark drop of the shoulder before skipping past the keeper and slotting the ball into an empty net.

The celebrations soon started although credit was given to High Bickington who stayed behind and gave a guard of honour.

Morwenstow with the title.
Morwenstow's players and management team celebrate. Back row from left: Michael Dolan, Jacob Jollow, Sam Sutcliffe, Aaron Kendall, Harry Savage, Mark Skelton, Jake Gilbert, Will Bryant (captain), Jack Savage, Cal Rogers, Josh Dolan, Dylan Woolley, Phil Horton, Robert Pengilly (manager). Front row: Tudor Placinta, Normy Foster, Corrick Davies, David Hales, Richie Armstrong and Toby Curtis. (Morwenstow AFC)