ALL OVER FOR ROVERS: SGT Police Reserves score four without reply against Newton Rovers to progress in the Lidstone Cup. © Al Macphee/MiraclePR
The TCS South Devon Football League will have a team in the final of the A&S Paving Devon Intermediate Cup for the second season in succession. Waldon Athletic Reserves were drawn against fellow SDFL Division Four side Ivybridge Town Development in the semi-finals and will face off at Windmill Hill on 5th March with the winners playing either St Thomas Social Club or Starcross Dons in the final.
Last year, Brixham Town made the final of the same competition, but were narrowly beaten by Witheridge Reserves.
The league could also have representation in the Robert Williams Estate Agents Devon Senior Cup final with Kingsteignton Athletic drawn away to Topsham Town Reserves and Chudleigh Athletic hosting Teignmouth Reserves in the semi-finals of that competition, also to be played on March 5th.
Last Saturday was a great day for the Plymouth-based sides of the TCS SDFL Premier Division with Elburton Villa Reserves and The Windmill both pulling off important wins. Elburton came away from Salcombe Town with three points, Bayley Williams, Billy Tedder-Hart, Corbin Mackin and Sam Lang all making the score-sheet with Charlie Barnes and Lee Morgan responding for the Crabs.
The Windmill welcomed league leaders Brixham Town Reserves to Bull Point, and they made up for their defeat at Wall Park with a 2-0 victory. Windmill manager Lee France hailed the contest as the ‘game of the day.’ His side started strongly with Rhys Walton missing a big chance to put them ahead when he blazed his effort over from nine yards. Brixham then had a glorious chance to take the lead when Brennan Moore brought down Luke Manuell. Dan Rankin stepped up but his penalty was saved by The Windmill’s number one, Dan Cork. Four minutes later, the home side took the lead when Andrew Cromack beat his man on the left to deliver a ball to the back post where Sam Doyle was waiting to head home. Windmill upped the gears after the break and, 20 minutes from the end, Ashley Walker crossed for Rhys Walton to head their second.
Both Plymouth clubs have now won five league games in a row, with Villa now just two points behind Brixham with two games in hand over the Fishermen.
Between the two sit Buckfastleigh Rangers who are also two points off the top, with one game in hand. Rangers didn’t play in the league as they were in George Belli Cup action at Abbrook Park. In an eventful game, Lewis Cox, Ryan Lucassi and Josh Zimmerman each scored to help Rangers to a 3-2 triumph over hosts Watts Blake Bearne. WBB scored through Jamie Orchard and Billy Clinch but also saw Cianan Breen sent off.
Meadowbrook Athletic are comfortably through to the second round following a 10-2 win at Barton Athletic. Former Totnes and Dartington goalscorer Daniel Block bagged a hat-trick for Brook, with Liam Collings scoring twice and Adam Biggs, Thomas Comyn, Jack Johansen, Jacob Kneebone and Daniel Wood completing the rout. Ivybridge Town Reserves are also into the last 16 following Galmpton’s recent withdrawal.
East Allington United suffered a surprise home defeat in the league, going down 1-0 to Newton Abbot ’66, Callum Foskett with the decider. Pirates top scorer Finley Bullen was sent off in that game.
In Division One, substitute Alex Stevenson scored twice to help Upton Athletic to their first win of the season. Fellow sub Jordan Bastow, Marc McGregor and Andrew Walker also found the back of the net in a 5-1 result at Kingskerswell and Chelston. Having had nine points deducted, Upton still have a lot to do to avoid finishing bottom.
A Bradley Williams brace and another goal from Jack Eades saw title contenders Beesands Rovers edge a tight game at the Duckspond 3-2. Jay Barnard and Jerry Revell scored for Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves.
Following their county cup successes Kingsteignton Athletic and Chudleigh Athletic both pulled off away wins in the Dartmouth Cup. Mark Voisey and Tom Reeves scored two apiece for the Rams in a 4-0 victory at Harbertonford. Jordan Armstrong and Jack Morrison saw Chudleigh over the line in a closer affair at Windmill Hill, Josh Clarke scoring for Waldon Athletic as they bowed out 2-1.
There were some big home wins in the Lidstone Cup, with Paignton Villa Reserves putting eight past Dartmouth AFC Reserves with no reply, Ashley Beetschen with a hat-trick. Babbacombe Corinthians comfortably despatched Watcombe Wanderers Reserves 6-1 at Windmill Hill, while SGT Police Reserves won 4-0 at home to Newton Rovers.
The highly anticipated clash between the top two in Division Two, Ilsington Villa and Torquay Town, was abandoned in the second half with Villa leading 4-1 at the time.
Brendan Boddy added another two goals to his tally as Division Three leaders Brixham Town made it into the last 16 of the Ronald Cup, beating Paignton Saints Thirds 5-0 away. An extra time winner from Sam Ingham saw Totnes and Dartington Reserves dispatch hosts Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves.
Mehment Siren Guloglu scored a hat-trick for Newton Rovers Reserves at Watcombe Wanderers Thirds as his side won 6-1.
Daniel Trezise celebrated a hat-trick for Brixham Town Reserves as they beat Discoveries Devon 7-1 to strengthen their bid for a top three finish in Division Four.
Finally, Watts Blake Bearne Reserves will take the last quarter-final spot in the Fred Hewings Cup following Torquay Town Reserves’ withdrawal from the league.