Ten-man St Blazey held at Sidmouth Town as they fail to take a host of chances

ST BLAZEY were made to pay for a host of missed chances in the second half as they were held to a goalless draw by last year’s play-off finalists at Manstone Lane.

The Green and Blacks headed to East Devon off the back of a 2-2 draw against Torpoint Athletic on Wednesday night and were boosted by the return of midfielder Charlie Hambly who took a spot on the bench.

Sidmouth had won their last two in the league following a slow start, but it was Blazey that created two good chances inside the first three minutes as firstly Cam Hutchison cut in off the left and saw his shot saved by Jacob O’Callaghan, only for the keeper to deny Kai Burrell from point-blank range on the rebound, which was followed by Burrell having his shot saved at the near post.

The Vikings missed a glorious chance to go in front on 12 minutes as impressive midfielder Cholwe Hachipuka headed Jack Mills’ inswinging corner against the crossbar from six yards, before down the other end, wing-back Teigan Rosenquest forced O’Callaghan into action once more, this time with his feet.

On 20 minutes visiting skipper Jack Calver saw a goal-bound effort cleared off the line, while Hachipuka once again couldn’t direct a header on target when well-placed from Mills’ inswinger from the right.

Hachipuka made it a hat-trick of chances with his head he couldn’t get on target, this time from Aidan Whitfield’s cross, while on 37 minutes Blazey were left rueing their luck as nobody got on the end of Olly Redd’s inviting ball across the box.

Blazey lost centre-half Jordan Bentley to the sin-bin for dissent five minutes before half-time, but after the break the chances kept coming, initially at both ends.

Sidmouth’s Jack Miller saw an effort well blocked before Tallan Mitchell could only shoot straight at O’Callaghan just before Bentley re-entered the fray.

On 53 minutes the Cornishmen missed their biggest opportunity yet as Hutchison blazed over from 12 yards with the goal at his mercy, while shortly after Burrell failed to get clean contact on a shot inside the box.

Home striker Ryan White was given 10 minutes to cool down for something said to the referee, and Blazey dominated with the extra man but failed to seriously test the keeper.

Their luck was out on 75 minutes as they hit the bar twice in the matter of seconds, the latter from Aaron Bentley from eight yards, before two minutes later Redd couldn’t force sub Harry Blows’ tantalising ball across the face of goal over the line.

At this stage it was all Blazey who then saw Aaron Bentley flick Calver’s corner onto Jordan Bentley who managed to head against the crossbar from four yards on 81 minutes, before shortly after sub Will Tinsley was shown a hotly-disputed red card.

A ball down the channel following a Blazey corner saw Tinsley take Oakley Bennett out with a crude tackle, however the referee adjudged it to have been serious enough for a red.

Unbeaten Blazey finished with nine as centre-half Cavanagh was sin-binned on 88 minutes, and although the hosts had a couple of half chances, the game somehow ended goalless.

Blazey, who stay fourth, welcome leaders Bridgwater United in their next outing on Saturday (3pm).

SIDMOUTH TOWN: Jacob O’Callaghan; Aidan Whitfield (Ryan Finnimore, 67), Tom Badcott, Nathan Cooper, Jack Mills (Luka Nickles); Charley Skilton (capt) (Danny Pym, 83), Cholwe Hachipuka, Jack Miller; Oakley Bennett, Ryan White, Giles Basson (Jack Towill). Sub not used: Eliott Driver.

ST BLAZEY: Kyle Moore; Aaron Bentley, Tom Cavanagh, Jordan Bentley; Teigan Rosenquest (Harry Blows, 72), Tallan Mitchell (Sam Clifton, 89), Sean Thomson (Ben Fowles, 87), Cam Hutchison (Will Tinsley, 61), Jack Calver (capt), Kai Burrell, Olly Redd (Charlie Hambly, 94).

Blazey man-of-the-match: Sean Thomson.