UPLYME 1sts ended their run of losses in Devon and Exeter Division Four with an impressive 5 - 1 win against a young, organised Sidmouth 3rds team.

Looking to build on a better second-half performance in last week's defeat, manager Steve Gillan took the decision to start himself in centre midfield, hoping it would help communication and allow the talent of the front three to express themselves better.

Joe Urquhart and Marcus Symonds responded brilliantly from the opening whistle and, alongside Alex Jones, terrorised the Sidmouth defence.

Jones struck a rising volley after Urquhart hit the crossbar and Symonds scored two brilliant goals, on his way to a fantastic hat-trick.

The Swallows went in with a 3-0 lead at half-time and the team talk was around best and worst-case scenarios and it was the former talk that came to fruition, as Symonds burst down the left in the first minute and drilled a square ball for Urquart to finish.

Sidmouth came forward with more pressure, but skipper Conor Newns and Josh Lawrenece handled the dangerous striker - 23 goals in nine appearances - effectively.

The highlight of the game came in the 75th minute when Symonds picked up the ball on the right wing, beat three players and, from the corner of the box, lifted an outrageos left-foot, Cantona-esque, flighted chip over a 6ft 5 keeper and into the far corner.

Sidmouth scored with the very last kick of the game but it didn't spoil the home mood.

"What a brilliant bounce-back," said Gillan. "Front to back, we were ready to knuckle down and put in the effort to get the rewards. We handled their dangerous striker really well and, with Marcus and Joe, we had the most dangerous players on the pitch. They were unplayable together.

"Marcus' hat-trick was one of the best I've seen in terms of individual brilliance I've seen in grassroots football. Let's take this into our next game."

Starting 11: Todd Lowe, James Hansford, James Beddows, Conor Newns (C), Josh Lawrence, Connor Tate, George Symonds, Steve Gillan, Alex Jones, Marcus Symonds, Joe Urquhart.