THIS IS THE WAY: Teignmouth side Templer Way made their Saturday football debut. Photo contributed by SDFL.
On the first weekend of the South Devon League season, we saw 100 goals being scored; on the second week, we saw 176 goals being scored. The big hitters this week were Watts Blake Bearne who put 13 goals past Brixham AFC in Division 1, and in Division 3, Drake FC scored the same number against Paignton Saints Thirds.
The other standout result was in Division 3, where Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds scored 11 goals for the second week in a row; I wonder if they could do it for a third week; now that would be something !!
It was business as usual for the Premier Division champions as Ilsington Villa got their season off to a winning start; a Jack Langford hat-trick ensured the points for the Moorlanders and sets them on their way to retaining the title against Kingsteignton Athletic. Waldon Athletic continued their good start to the season with a 2 – 1 win at Beesands Rovers who have lost their opening two games by the same scoreline; there was better news for Premier new boys Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves who got their first points of the season with a 4-nil victory at Buckfastleigh Rangers which is never an easy place to go. One of the other promoted teams Totnes and Dartington have maximum points from their first two games; a 2 – 1 home win versus East Allington United just shows there is little to choose between the top two divisions.
Two weeks into the season and only four teams in Division One have maximum points; last week’s big hitters Plymouth Phoenix did not have it their own way in the home game against Ivybridge Town; goals from Ben Woodman and Jamie Grinrod were just enough to scrape a 2 – 1 win which suggests they may not run away with this division as some thought, but it will take a good performance to beat them. Plymouth True Blues won 5 – 1 for the second week running; goals from William Stringer, Micheal Storey, Sam Cooper and Mick Storey eased them past a young Buckland Athletic Reserves team. Brixham Town had a good result in their opening game: a 3-nil win at Watcombe Wanderers Firsts sets them on their way to go one better this season. Bovey Tracey Reserves complete the foursome on maximum points; a comfortable 4-nil win versus Paignton Villa, thanks to goals from Alistair Chuchuk, Oliver Cliff-Bourne and Ben Moyle, who was a real pain in the Paignton Villa defence all afternoon, keeps them on track. The Windmill managed to put their points on the board with a 6 – 1 win at Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds; Louis Green was on target for Spurs, but the Plymouth Team, who were hurting after their defeat on opening day, proved too strong on the day. The big scorers of the day were WBB who put 13 goals past a very young Brixham AFC Reserves team who conceded 11 last week; there were hat-tricks for Micheal Turner and Kyle Gurney, doubles for Sam Stowell and Sam Pearce with singles for Sam Bannister, Ryan Clark and Jamie Orchard, so points on the board for Wattsies and a lot of confidence moving forward.
Incredibly in Division Two, only three teams have maximum points after two weeks which suggests a good competition. Mount Gould finally got a game under their hats in the Torbay Clearance Services League after last weeks disappointment, and it was not a happy journey for Newton Rovers who conceded 8 goals; a Joe Jasper hat-trick and a double from Sam Tattersall assisted with singles from Dan Harris, Joshua Bance, Matt Hill and Arron Spear secured the points and, as expected, they look the team to beat in this division. Barton Athletic also have 6 points from two games; a 4 – 1 win at Coach Road against Paignton Saints Seconds, thanks to goals from Connor Adamson, James Thomas, Liam Walton and Oakley Hunt who also saw yellow in the first minute of the game. In fact, it was not a good weekend for the three Saints teams who between them conceded 26 goals, now that must be a first and hopefully a last. Harbertonford complete the threesome of unbeaten teams in Division Two; a fine 3 – 1 victory over Upton Athletic, thanks to goals from Sam Fenegan, Alan Hamlett and Luke Collens, gives the Fords an opening day win which will be well received by their supporters. Liverton United, Paignton Villa Seconds and Watcombe Wanderers Seconds all put points on the board with a first win, and the latter with a 10-nil home win versus Ipplepen Athletic Seconds.
In Division Three, the top four teams were all promoted from Division Four, and it looks like they are going to battle it out in this division. Kingsteinton Athletic Seconds scored 11 goals for the second week; this week Brixham Town Seconds were the victims of hat-tricks from Billy Bristow and Mark Prowse and singles from Finlay Lumgar, Raymond Lawal, Jack Lee and Louis Dickenson rolling back the years; Drake FC went two better in scoring 13 goals against Paignton Saints Thirds; Louis George was on target five times, and Ashley Walker scored a hat-trick before getting his name in the referee’s notebook. Elburton Villa Thirds were also high scorers; just the twelve goals at South Brent keeps them on maximum points, not bad for an under 18 team from last year’s county youth league. The final team in this division yet to slip up are Liverton Unite Seconds; a 5-nil win at Waldon Athletic Seconds, thanks to goals from Shane Essam and Oliver West – 2 each – and Matt Way secured the points for Livvy.
Division Four this week was all about the new teams making their SDFL debuts. Whilst Kingskerswell have not played in the competition for two years since disbanding the adult section of the club, chairman Paul Edwards felt the time was right, and the players and manager were in place to give adult football another go. Well, after finding out their clubhouse had been double-booked for Saturday, they acted quickly and secured the all-weather pitch at South Devon College to get the game on, and as they say, it all worked out well in the end. A 5 – 1 win against Watcombe Wanderers Thirds gets them up and running and looking forward to their next outing at Loddiswell on 14th September to face Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. The other team are not only making their SDFL debut but playing their first game in Saturday football. Templer Way FC have switched from the Exeter Sunday league to see how competitive they can be in the Saturday game; once again, it all ended up well in the end, a 4 – 3 home win at Michaels Field against an experienced Teign Village side who got off to a winning start last week has put the first points on the board for the newbies; Chris Bennett was the star of the show with a Saturday hat-trick, and there was a single strike from Jamie Bowen; the team were also able to use four substitutes to get them over the line and are looking forward to a trip to town on the 14th September to face Newton Rovers Seconds at Bakers Park. Both Broadhempston United and Newton Rovers Seconds remain with maximum points after two games, so the game at Bakers Park will have more than just 3 points riding on it.
Games to catch on Saturday 14th September:
In the Premier Division, Paignton Saints lock horns with their former Devon League rivals Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds at Coach Road, and just two weeks after winning 2 – 1 at Beesands on the opening day, Totnes and Dartington host the South Hams team at Dartington in the return fixture. Also in the top division, Buckfastleigh Rangers host East Allington United. There is a local derby at Barton Downs where Barton Athletic welcome Upton Athletic, and Kingsteignton Athletic are at home to Ashburton at Broadpark; both teams have had good starts to the season.
A number of South Devon League games have been postponed to give way to the County Cups, and a couple of games stand out: Bovey Tracey Reserves face Division One rivals Windmill FC and, just down the road, Liverton face East Budleigh from the Exeter league; these two KO at 2pm.
Enjoy your grassroots football.