Tom Reeves scored three as Kingsteignton move up the gears. Photo © Al Macphee/MiraclePR. Report by SDFL.
In the Premier Division, the moorland machine that is Ilsington Villa continues to plough through the opposition. The latest team to visit Lewthorne Cross and come away with nothing were last season’s runners-up Buckfastleigh Rangers who scored 5 goals, but conceded 6 to a team that finished third in Division One last season.
Buckfastleigh were winning 5 – 2 at half time, but a hat-trick from Dan Langford and 2 from Matt Goodwin keeps the moorlanders top of the table with the only 100% record in the Premier Division. Elsewhere in this division, Morley Rangers stay in second place following a scare at bottom club Brixham AFC Reserves. Dalton Brammer and Jack Tribble made sure of the points for the Plymstock team in a 3 – 2 victory. Beesands Rovers cemented their place in third following a fine 3 – 1 win at Osborne Park against Newton Abbot ’66. Last season’s champions in the Torbay Clearance Services Premier League, Kingsteignton Athletic, are finding their feet after a tricky start; a 4-nil win at home to Waldon Athletic makes a statement to the new boys. A hat-trick for Tom Reeves and a single for Matt Williams puts them up to fourth. Elburton Villa have moved into fifth place following a comfortable 3-nil home win against a young Chudleigh Athletic team who lost their manager during the week and no doubt some players.
In Division One, the match of the day between Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves and Watcombe Wanderers had to be abandoned following a serious injury to Spurs player Ben Frost. All of the South Devon Football League family wish Ben a speedy recovery. The other big game in this division took place at Homers Heath where two of last season’s Devon League teams met for the first time in the Torbay Clearance Services Division One. Paignton Saints moved into third place with a 4-nil win against Buckland Athletic, and Brixham Town remain in second place with a comfortable 6-nil win at Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds. A big well done to Babbacombe Corries who picked up their first win of the season at home to Upton Athletic; Brendon Highfield scored both of Corries’ goals which moves them out of the relegation zone. As expected, this is going to be a very tight division with 5 teams looking to reach the Premier Division next season.
In Division Two, the top 2 met on the 4G at Coach Road, and it was Paignton Saints Seconds that came out on top in a 5 goal thriller; and they move 3 points clear at the top of another very tight and competitive division; Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds and East Allington United Seconds fought out a 2 – 2 draw and remain in second and fourth respectively; Joel Patchet and Jack Taylor were on target for the young Spurs who are going well. Newton Abbot Spurs are in a small select group of clubs that manage to put out 3 teams in the Torbay Clearance Services League at a time where a lot of clubs struggle to get 11 players out on a Saturday; how can Spurs, Waldon, Watcombe, Paignton Saintsa and Paignton Villa manage to put out at least 33 every Saturday? One thing is for sure: it doesn’t just happen without the hard work and dedication of volunteers behind the scenes working their socks off for grassroots football; so a big thank you and well done. Also, well done to Brixham Town Seconds who picked up their first point of the season with a 3 – 3 draw at home to WBB Seconds.
Division Three is also proving to be a competitive division, with Stoke Gabriel TP slipping up at Ashburton by 3 goals to nil courtesy of Dan Grute, Dan Wordsworth and Brandon Hext; this allowed Watcombe Wanderers Seconds to go 6 points clear with a 6-nil win at home to Teign Village; Adam Townsend got a hat trick with Mike Fieldhouse, Simon Ross and Ellis Kendall scoring for the Greens; South Brent also remain in contention with a 7 – 1 win at Paignton Villa Seconds, plus they have games in hand on the 5 leading teams.
Division Four returned to normal service with Drake FC returning to the top spot with a 7 – 1 victory at Paignton Villa Thirds; Callum and Louis Thomas got the scoring underway with Ashley Walker and Spike Nicholls scoring one each; Ben Webster and Alex Hambly scored late on to complete a comfortable afternoon. Elburton Villa Thirds are hot on their heals and a 5 – 1 win at Chudleigh Athletic Seconds will restore confidence in the young team; Kingsteington Athletic Seconds also remain at the top end of the table following a 3-2 win at South Brent Seconds; Sam Arthurs and Ashton Hogarth got the scoring underway with Louis Dickinson rolling back the years and remembering where the goal is. And finally, congratulations to Barton Athletic Seconds who picked up their first win of the season with a 2 – 1 win against fellow strugglers Newton Rovers Seconds. With 135 goals scored across the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League, it proves that the grassroots football grounds of south Devon are the perfect place to spend your Saturday afternoon.
Pick of the games on the day the clocks change are in the Premier Division; Buckfastleigh Rangers host in form Beesands Rovers and Newton Abbot ’66 host Morley Rangers at Osborne Park; in Division One, the 2 stand out games are at Ivybridge Town Reserves who welcome Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds and up at Long Lane there should be a cracker when Watcombe Wanderers play Brixham Town. In Division Two, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds host Ipplepen Athletic Seconds at Chuley Road; Ashburton and Newton Rovers will be looking to upset leaders Paignton Saints Seconds at Bakers Park. The stand out game in Division Three is Stoke Gabriel TP Seconds versus Liverton United whilst South Brent host Totnes and Dartington who both were promoted last season; and finally, in Division Four, Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds host South Brent Seconds in what should be a lively encounter. If none of these take your fancy, have a look at the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon League full-time website where you will find a list of all the games, and they all kick off at 2.30pm. Enjoy your weekend and support your local grassroots team.