Devon & Exeter Intermediate 4

North Tawton Reserves 2

Budleigh Bulldogs 2

TAWTON were robbed of three points and Bulldogs escaped their first defeat in this end to end game played in bad weather.

In the first half Tawton were easily the better side, wanting to win everything. They held the game up well, but on the half-hour Bulldogs scored despite claims for offside.

Tawton battled on and with minutes of the first half remaining, Richard Keast went on a run, going past three players then crossing across the box for Stuart Bragg to have an easy tap-in.

But Bulldogs linesman was late in flagging, then said he saw a foul on the way through.

In the second half Tawton were fired up and controlling the game. With Keast giving them trouble on the left wing, Bulldogs did have early chances but good defending sent them off.

On the hour Keast made a blinding run and hit home Tawton?s equaliser.

Tawton went after the win but a miss-kick in defence by Graham Squires gave Bulldogs the lead again.

Bulldogs, thinking they had a victory in the bag with only seven minutes left, were much mistaken when Squires made a 30-yard run and passed to Bragg, who lobbed the goalkeeper only to hit the crossbar. But Chris Fields was there to mop the ball up to make it 2-2.

Tawton still attacked Bulldogs, keeping them on their toes, but had to settle for a point.

Man of the match: Andy Down.

Saturday, away to Tedburn St Mary, kick-off 2.30pm. All welcome.