VILLA v VILLA: Ilsington win battle of the Villas to reach consecutive Division Two cup semi-finals. ©Derek Castree
Buckfastleigh Rangers took a big step towards the Torbay Clearance Services SDFL Premier Division title with a narrow win over an Elburton Villa Reserves side who led the game twice.
Corbin Mackin opened the scoring for the Plymouth outfit, but the hosts leveled before the break. Villa once more got their noses in front before Rangers found two goals to turn the tie on its head, the decision leading to the third leaving Villa ‘baffled’. Buckfastleigh’s goals came from Steve Sutton, Charlie Morgan and a Josh Zimmerman, penalty.
Brixham AFC Reserves still lead the way, following a comfortable 6-0 home win over Meadowbrook Athletic, but Rangers are now just two points behind with a game in hand. Villa will be hoping for a better outcome when Rangers visit Haye Road later this season.
East Allington United were held to a 2-2 draw by Watts Blake Bearne, a result that did neither team much good, while Carlton Allen’s first half goal at Bull Point was enough to see The Windmill take three points from Newton Abbot ’66. The Windmill climb to fifth with their seventh straight league victory.
Waldon Athletic’s narrow hopes of holding on to top spot in Division One were boosted with Paignton Saints Reserves and Beesands Rovers cancelling each other out at Coach Road. The game ended 2-2 with Saints, who remain unbeaten, scoring through Jake Powell and Dan Pagett, and Adam Winkworth and Thomas Lang on target for the Bees. The draw was also good news for Kingsteignton Athletic who are still fighting on four fronts following a walkover into the semi-finals of the Dartmouth Cup, Kingskerswell and Chelston failing to raise a side.
New Upton Athletic manager Andy Slough earned his first point as the Torquay side drew 1-1 at Harbertonford, Alex Dyer and Sam Lamburn trading goals. Elsewhere, Chudleigh Athletic moved up to fourth with a 4-0 triumph over Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves, Alex Cherry, Aidan Brown and Alfie Luscombe among the goalscorers.
Saturday’s Dartmouth Cup semi-finals will see Chudleigh host Paignton Saints Reserves and Kingsteignton welcome Paignton Villa to Broadpark.
Division Two leaders Torquay Town warmed up for their Lidstone Cup semi-final at Ilsington Villa with a 6-0 thrashing of Watcombe Wanderers Reserves. Simon Strong netted a hat-trick with Kevin Orrell, Pete Summerfield and Aaron Underhill completing the scoring.
Villa secured safe passage to the final four with a 4-1 home win over Paignton Villa Reserves, Jack Dixon, Dan Langford, Jack Langford and Matt Warman on target. Tom Ratkovich scored Paignton’s consolation.
Barton Athletic Reserves and East Allington United Reserves, who will be contesting the other Lidstone Cup semi, both celebrated 3-2 away league wins, over Ipplepen Athletic Reserves and SGT Police Reserves respectively.
Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves cemented their third place position with a 6-3 win over Newton Abbot Spurs Third, Curtis Marshall another hat-trick hero, and Callum Leeds, Ben Nickells and sub Jordan Charlesworth also finding the net.
A high scoring affair at Longcross went the way of Dartmouth AFC Reserves as they beat Newton Rovers 4-3. Oumar Rujbally doubled up for Darts, who also scored through Richard Ridley and Robbie Chalk. Jake Cogavin managed a brace for Rovers, with Curtis Bond also scoring.
Goals from Mike Turner and Jamie Chegwin at Abbrook Park saw Teign Village overcome Watts Blake Bearne Reserves 2-1 to book a Ronald Cup quarter-final meeting at Division Three leaders Brixham Town on Saturday. The winners of that game will meet Bishopsteignton United in the semi-final, with the other semi-final, between Totnes and Dartington and Liverton United Reserves, to be decided this Saturday.
Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves moved back up to third with Liverton unable to raise a side last weekend. Paignton Saints Thirds bounced back from their home loss to Brixham Town with a 2-0 win at Totnes and Dartington, and there were 8-1 wins for both Kingsbridge and Kellaton United and Chudleigh Athletic Thirds against Broadhempston United and Bishopsteignton respectively.
Bovey Tracey Reserves enjoyed an emphatic 9-0 victory at Watcombe Wanderers Thirds to go back to the top of Division Four, Alistair Chuchuk with four goals, Matthew Churchill scoring three times and James Lockwood and substitute Duncan Gray also notching. The only other league game saw Kingsteignton Athletic Thirds put three past Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves without reply, Charlie White scoring twice and Cameron Davis on target.
Harley Battle fired home four goals for Ivybridge Town Development in their delayed First Round Les Bishop Cup game at home to Waldon Athletic Reserves. Kai Foster and Matthew Goodwin also celebrated goals in a 6-2 win, with Josh Briscomb and Stephen Rohan responding for the Clarets. Next up for the Ivies is a home quarter-final tie against Discoveries Devon with the winners playing Bovey Reserves in the final four. South Brent host Brixham Town Reserves in the other semi-final, to be played this Saturday.