TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 17th JAN, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Tom Reeves ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Just eight games managed to survive not only a wet week in South Devon but an explosive situation uncovered by a player in Plymouth.
Plymouth True Blues continue to lead the way at the top of the Premier Division, A single strike from Dylan Holgate was just enough to get past a dogged performance from Paignton Saints at Millbay Park; True Blues’ lead at the top remains at two points as they move into the second phase of their fixtures. Not only were they concerned about the game going ahead due to the weather, one of their players, Caleb Needham, just happened to be part of the team that uncovered an unexploded World War Two bomb that was inside the exclusion zone set up by the bomb squad. Fortunately, it was dealt with, and the exclusion was lifted on Friday.
Whilst there are still five teams that can surpass True Blues with maximum points from their games in hand, Windmill FC are best placed, at the moment, to win that race following an impressive 5-1 win at East Allington United. Brodie Simpson and Jack Briscoe both scored a brace, and former golden boot winner Corbin Mackin scored a single to keep the Plymouth side two points behind the leaders with three games in hand.
Buckfastleigh Rangers won a league game for the first time since 18th October, but what a big win it was. A 2-1 home result against Kingsteignton Athletic moves them to within four points of the Rams who, from nowhere, seem to have been dragged into a relegation battle. Tom Reeves (pictured) scored for the visitors, but it was two goals from Lewis Clarke that sealed the game for Buckfastleigh who will be looking to use their newfound confidence wisely.
The five teams that can overtake the leaders with games in hand are Windmill FC, Lakeside, Newton Abbot ’66, Chudleigh Athletic and Ilsington Villa, and not to forget that Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves and East Allington United can get within two points of them, which sets the division up for a cracking second half of the season.
In Division One, only one game beat the weather, and it was the turn of Barton Athletic to heap more disappointment on Brixham Town who, just three games ago, were looking towards the Premier Division. This week’s set back was a 5-nil home defeat, and goals from Oakley Hunt, Dom Lavalee, Eden Cresswell Cluer and Louie Roberts sealed a great win for the Blues and keeps them in contention with games in hand. Town remain one point off the lead in what is a compacted top four, and with four other teams just outside the pack, this is going to go to the wire with some great six-pointers to look forward too.
No league games survived in Division Two, so it’s as you were with Signal Box Oak Villa in pole position, four points ahead of unbeaten Babbacombe Corries. Ivybridge Town Reserves, Ashburton and Drake FC are the most likely teams to spoil the party for the top two in the attempt to reach Division One next term.
In Division Three, Galmpton United moved level on points with the leaders Kingskerswell with a comfortable 7-1 win against an improving Buckfastleigh Rangers second team. A hat-trick for Harley Hooper and singles from Harrison Arnold, Greg Hindom, Max Prestwood and Austin White was a good payback for club stalwart and groundsman Mike Drew who, having picked his moments during the wet weather to prepare the pitch to a level that allowed a footballing side to play the way they did, deserves a shout out. Well done Mike, and thank you for what you do for South Devon League football.
The division is looking like a two horse race at the moment, but South Brent, Liverton United Reserves, Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds and Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds all have games in hand; but the top two are the two to beat.
Two league games went ahead in Division Four, and Chudleigh Athletic Seconds moved six points clear at the top with an unconvincing 2-1 success at Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. It took a double strike from Jack Salmons to win a game that the home team deserved at least a point from. Paignton Villa Thirds moved into third place with a fine 7-1 victory in the derby game versus Paignton Saints Thirds; Lucas Burgess was the star of the show with four goals, and Martin McHugh weighed in with a hat-trick that leaves the young Villa team in a good place.
County Cup Reports:
Ilsington Villa bowed out of the county Premier Cup against Step 7 side Plymouth Marjon by four goals to one. Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves’ quarter-final game versus Alphington was postponed and will be played on 24th January, and the winners will join the remaining three Step 7 teams in the semi-finals.
The situation in the Senior Cup for SDFL teams is a lot better, and remember, the SDFL has produced the last two winners of the competition. Bovey Tracey Reserves, Mount Gould, Drake FC, WBB, Paignton Villa, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds and Elburton Villa Reserves all have to play for a place in the quarter-finals this week.
Still representing the SDFL in the Intermediate Cup are Kingskerswell and South Brent. ‘Kerswell had a good 2-nil win at Bow, and Brent won a real tussle of a game 5-3 at home to Putford.
Games to catch on Saturday 24th January:
There are two stand-out games in the Premier Division this week and, depending on the outcome, could give two of the teams a mountain to climb to get back into the race for the title or just open the whole division up for grabs.
Ilsington Villa take on Windmill FC at Lewthorne Cross in a fixture that should show the very best of grassroots football, and in Newton Abbot, ’66 play True Blues; that is sure to be full of incident.
In Division One, Brixham Town face another stiff test, as Liverton United pay a visit to the seaside looking to upset the Fishermen.
In Division Two, all eyes will be on Ashburton to see if they can slow the progress of Babbacombe Corries and join them in the top three with a win, and Kingskerswell host third-placed Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds who will hope to be the first team to win a league game at the Kerswell Bowl. Over in Torquay, there should be an interesting game at Barton Downs, where Barton Reserves host Bere Alston United in a fixture that has both teams looking to stay in touch of the leading two who just happen to meet at The Village: Teign Village versus Chudleigh Athletic Seconds is the much-awaited game in Division Four and should be a great advert for grassroots football and a real six-pointer.
Enjoy your grassroots football.