The first day of the new season got off to a tough start against a good Crediton side, however Central matched them for effort and running. A goal in each half sealed the win for Crediton but Central were unlucky when Luke Henderson's shot was scooped off the line by the diving keeper and Luke came just as close in the second half when his free kick hit the post.

Mark

This was an excellent performance from Central playing great football. A hat-trick from Jamie Bush in the first half and a hat-trick from Paul Chulu in the second, with other goals from Luke Henderson, Josh Barlow and Sam Hynds on his debut sealed a convincing win. Well played to Stoke Hill's keeper who pulled off some great saves.

Mark

This was a below par performance from Central against a well organised Brixington side who punished every mistake. However they never gave up and ran and battled for every ball and got a reward when Rob Cousins popped up on the edge of Brixington's penalty box and vollied home to score his first goal for Central in over three years.

Mark

This was an excellent game of football from both sides, played in good spirit. Both sides played attacking football and it was Broadclyst who took the lead in the first 15 minutes. But it wasn't long before Central equalised when there was a bit of a scramble in the box and Josh Barlow was able to lob the on coming keeper. Central then scored two quick goals, both from Jamie Bush. The first a superb volley just inside the box which went in of the post and the second a well taken penalty.

In the second half Broadclyst upped the pace and scored two good goals to bring the game all square. But Central were not finished yet and dug deep to find the winner again from Josh Barlow. Well played both teams.

Mark

This was an excellent game to watch, with both sides playing good football. Pinhoe took the lead from the penalty spot, but their lead only lasted 15 minutes before Steve Bampton equalised. Central should have taken the lead in the first half but they missed their chances.

They were punished for this in the second half when the Pinhoe striker hit a superb shot from outside the box which flew into the top corner. Pinhoe hit a third with only minutes left. Central were not finished yet and continued to attack and were rewarded with a penalty in the last minute which was coolly taken by Jamie Bush.

Mark

This was by far Central's best performance of the season, playing attacking football but also defending against a strong Heavitree forward line.

The first real chance at goal came in the second half when Steve Bampton flew down the right wing and put in a hard low cross which Paul Chulu connected with only to put the wrong side of the post. Central continued to attack and were rewarded when they won a free kick out on the left wing. Lee Haggar stepped up and floated a superb cross for Steve Bampton to head into the top corner of the net.

Heavitree tried their best to beat the Central defence but were kept out until the last minutes of the game when they won a corner. From this they put in a good cross and the Heavitree player out-jumped Central defence to score a deserved equaliser.

Well, played everybody.

Mark

Central always looked in control of this game, passing the ball around the pitch well. Central's first came from skipper Alex Helliar who won a far post header. Two minutes later Lee Haggar scored the best goal of the game when he volleyed home from outside the box. (This was Lee's first goal in two years of trying!!). Substitute Wayne Richards scored his first for Central as well to make it 3-0 at half time.

In the second half further goals from Steve Bampton and Sam Hynds for Central with Honiton scoring two in between sealed a convincing win for the home team.

Mark

This was a game of two halves, in the first Central dominated play and could have gone three up in the first ten minutes. They got there reward when Lee Haggar scored his second goal in as many games tapping in from close range. Central got there second when Steve Bampton beat the Okey defender to the ball, rounded the keeper and unselfishly crossed to the unmarked Paul Chulu to tap into an open goal.

In the second half Okehampton upped the pace and dominated the half scoring two goals to bring the game level.

Mark

Goals from Luke Henderson, Wayne Richards and Sam Hynds were not enough to beat the league leaders, but Central came close to causing a shock and if they had taken two good chances when Alex Helliar lobbed the keeper and the bar in the first half and Sam Hynds volley causing Tom Rowe in the Pinhoe goal to pull off a superb reflex save in the second half, things might have been different. (This game was played at KGV because Pinhoe's venue unplayable).

Mark

This was the first game of the new year for Central and it was a hard fought game against a well organised side. Brixington started the better pushing the Central defence back, but they soaked up all the pressure and when they started to attack they were rewarded when Wayne Richards headed past the Brixington keeper. Brixington equalised later but Wayne popped up again in the box to score his second. Wayne almost scored his hat-trick when he turned and volleyed well only for the keeper to pull off a great save.

In the second half Luke Henderson put Central 3-1 up but Brixington would not give up and pulled the game back to 3-3. With about 15 mins to go Central won a free kick on the left wing and Lee Hagger floated a "David Beckham" like cross to the far post straight on to Steve Bampton's head to score the winner.

Mark

This was an excellent game played in the right spirit by both teams, Central went ahead after only 5 minutes when Alex Helliar floated a free kick into the box, Steve Bampton won the header and knocked it goal bound, Wayne Richards made sure the ball crossed the line. Heavitree then equalised and at half time the teams were level.

In the second half, Central were playing against the wind but still played excellent football. They were rewarded when they won a free kick 20 yards from goal, up stepped Lee Haggar and hit an unstoppable shot into the Heavitree net to put central 2-1 up. With about 15 minutes left Central won another free kick this time it was a good 25-30 yards from goal, but this didn't stop Lee as he did exactly the same thing.

It was nice to see all the supporters from both sides applaud an excellent piece of skill.

Mark

With Central losing 1-0 and not playing very well the decision was made to change the formation and bring on Sam Hynds up front and within 5 minutes of the start of the second half it paid off. Sam received the ball on the edge of Honiton's box and put a perfect cross for Josh Barlow to equalise.

Ten minutes later Sam beat his marker and slotted the ball home to go 2-1 up. Sam could have got his second when his shot was heading for the back of the net only for it to be tapped in by offside Wayne Richards.

Mark

Central started very well in this game and were rewarded when Steve Bampton put in a defence splitting pass for on coming Wayne Richards to slot home. Wayne scored his second 15 minutes later for central to go two up.

Okehampton then started to play better and were rewarded with three goals straight off. At this point with Central 3-2 down, more changes were made and super sub Sam Hynds came on for the second week running and changed the game. After only 5 minutes of Sam being on, Josh Barlow found himself unmarked in the box and levelled the game to 3-3.

With only minutes left Luke Henderson and Steve Bampton worked well together and a shot hit the post only for Sam to be in the right place at the right time and win the game for Central.

Mark

On a very windy day and on a bumpy pitch Central always looked in control of this game. Goals came from Paul Chulu and Luke Henderson in the first half. In the second half Tom Cherrett scored with a header and with the wind behind him Rob Shearman beat the Phoenix keeper from 45 yards to score his first goal for Central in over 5 years of trying.

Mark

On a wet, windy day and on a muddy pitch, this was a superb game of football to watch. Both sides came close in the first half, but it was in the second half when the goals came. Central struck first when Luke Henderson cut in from the left wing and struck a great shot into the opposite corner. West Exe came back and were awarded a dubious penalty for handball, but this was superbly saved by Ricky Virgin in goal. However, with only 10 minutes left on the clock West Exe broke down the right wing, crossed into the box and found a West Exe striker to equalise. Most players and supporters would have been happy with a draw but not Central's Steve Bampton. After all his hard work throughout the game he was rewarded with the winning goal. Alex Helliar floated a free kick from the half way line into the penalty box and Steve out-jumped everybody else to nod the ball into the West Exe net.

Mark

Central always looked in control of this game and it wasn't long before the goals started to come. Goals from Wayne Richards (4), Luke Henderson (2), Sam Hynds, Alex Helliar, and first goals for Central from Ricky Virgin (penalty) Ben Middlemost, and Matt Braund who has had to wait over 9 years to celebrate his first. A special mention to Stoke Hill who never gave up and were very sporting in their defeat.

Mark

This was an excellent game of football, playing at Clyst Valley's pitch in full sunshine, the setting was perfect for a cup semi final. West Exe started the better going one up after 10 minutes but straight from the restart Paul Chulu found himself on the right wing, beat two defenders and the goalie to bring the game back level. Then shortly after, a Lee Haggar free kick saw skipper Alex Helliar rise superbly above everybody else to head Central into the lead.

Photos From the Day

In the second half West Exe piled on the pressure and they were also able to make two substitutes because of tired legs, something Central were unable to do due to a long list of season ending injuries and unavailability - they were only able to field eleven players, and this showed come the end. West Exe ground Central down and equalised with 15 minutes to go, sending the game into extra time.

Photos From the Day

During extra time, Jamie Bush also got injured, but carried on through the pain, but it was West Exe who got the winning goals to secure a place in the final.

CENTRAL SHOULD HOLD THEIR HEADS UP HIGH AS THIS WAS AN EXCELLENT, GRITTY PERFORMANCE AND THEY NEVER GAVE UP

Mark