TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 12th SEPTEMBER, by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Chudleigh Athletic Reserves contributed by SDFL
Week two of the league season was interrupted by the first round of the county cups, which resulted in just 16 league fixtures going ahead for the teams that were awarded a bye from DCFA.
The big game in the Premier Division between Kingsteignton Athletic and Lakeside Athletic went to the visitors who enjoyed a 4-1 victory and remain the early pacesetters. In the only other league game to be played in the top division, Elburton Villa Reserves picked up their first points of the season with a 2-1 win at Totnes and Dartington who, for the second week in a row, lose a game by just one goal. There were some Premier Division clubs playing in the county Premier Cup, and there was a notable success for Newton Abbot ’66 who beat higher league opposition in AFC Brixham Seconds, and neighbours Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds made the long trip to North Devon worthwhile with a good win at Coombe Martin, but True Blues and East Allington United make their exit in the first round. There was also an all-SDFL tie that saw Ilsington Villa progress at the expense of Paignton Saints.
In Division One, all eyes were on the game at Mount Gould where Bovey Tracey Reserves gave the hosts a game to remember, but not many teams win there. Bovey threw away a two goal lead for the hosts to run out winners by five goals to three to maintain their good start to the season. Ray Spear scored two and Keiron Morris, Barney Gillies and Soloman Sinclair also found the target. The double take result was at Loddiswell, where Beesands Rovers conceded six goals to a Paignton Villa side that really put in a shift and came away with the points that put them into fourth place. The two Division One teams in the county Senior Cup both progressed into the next round: Watcome Wanderers, courtesy of a walkover, and Buckland Athletic Seconds won 7-2 versus Exmouth Albion.
In Division Two, Galmpton United and Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds share top spot following good wins. Galmpton scored five without reply against Ivybridge Town Seconds, and Spurs won 5-2 against a good Ashburton side, who have played the top two teams in the opening two weeks. Nick Garett, Dylan Price, Jack Bailey and Montell Peart were the Spurs target men. Tavistock Seconds got their first points on the board thanks to a close 3-2 win over Paignton Saints Seconds at Langford Park.
Just one Division Two team in the first round of the county Senior cup: Liverton United made hard work against Exeter Royals, giving up a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3, and needed the penalty shootout to progress to Round Two.
In Division Three, newly-promoted Chudleigh Athletic Seconds (pictured) got their first win of the season at Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds with a 5-1 result that, for now, puts them in pole position on goal difference. Keoron Fletcher, Jack Salmons, Hayden Cox and Jack Slocombe found the net at Duckspond. The only other league game in this division was at Bakers Park, where Newton Rovers and Liverton United Seconds drew 1-1 for both to get a point on the board. There were a couple of county cup successes for this division. Horrabridge Rangers had a cross-moorland trip to Witheridge and came away with a 4-1 victory, and hats off to the lads from Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds who fulfilled their game at High Bickington and progress with a 3-1 win. Ipplepen Athletic Seconds also made it through to the next round by beating Exeter International.
The early pacesetters in Division Four are Barton Athletic. They had a tough battle against Windmill but finished with a 5-4 win to give them two wins from two games. Signal Box Seconds got their first win of the season, and what a win it was. A 13-1 win versus Waldon Athletic puts them into second place after just two games. To Waldon’s credit, they had to play the last 25 mins with ten players due to injury. Ilsington Villa Seconds and Lakeside Athletic Seconds both got their seasons up and running with a 2-1 victory. Villa’s came away at Paignton Villa Thirds, who conceded 13 last week, and Athletic’s was at home against Brixham Town Seconds, they made a confident start to the season last week. The Division Four teams in the Intermediate Cup had mixed results. Bere Alston United Reserves had a trek and a half to Sandford to lose 4-3, but Buckland Athletic Thirds had a comfortable eight-nil win over Offwell.
Tamerton Foliot are the early leaders in Division Five, scoring four goals for the second week in a row. This week, it was a 4-2 win at Broadhempston United thanks to goals from George Cordon, Owen Deakon and Isaac Phillips. Paignton Saints Thirds found the back of the net on 11 occasions in their home game versus Newton Rovers Seconds, and how nice it is to see teams that have struggled in the past get some good results, and as a result, they sit second in the table and are no doubt full of confidence. Tavistock Thirds also got their first win of the season with a close 5-4 victory over WBB to get them up and running. Ryan Smale, Tom Pritchard, Matt Davidson and David Harwood were on target for the Lambs. The battle of the division was at Windmill Hill, where Waldon Athletic Reserves and Newton Albion shared the points in a 2-2 draw that I am told was entertaining to watch. Conner Charlesworth and Jay Tout were on target for the home side, and the result leaves both teams unbeaten.
Just one county cup fixture in this division, and Kingsbridge and Kellaton bowed out of the Intermediate Cup having travelled all the way to Millwey Rise in Axminster to lose three-nil, so well done to them for flying the SDFL flag in the East.
Games to catch on Saturday 19th September:
Let’s start with my game of the week, as Plymouth True Blues finally kick off their season having come close to withdrawing from the competition. But thanks to a lot of hard work by the volunteers at the club, and the good use of a rule by the LMC, they will have to endure a tough opening fixture at Ilsington Villa, where the KO is 2.30pm. Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Kingsteignton Athletic host Elburton Villa Reserves, Lakeside Athletic welcome Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves and Newton Abbot ’66 host Paignton Saints at Osborne Park. In Division One, the game at Bovey Tracey Reserves should be a cracker, where Beesands Rovers are the visitors looking for their first points of the new season. In Division Two, East Allington United Seconds also get their season underway after a worrying period at the club. They have also used their free time well to ensure the Seconds survive, and a visit by Tavistock Seconds will be a tester for the Pirates. In Division Three, Stoke Gabriel TP welcome Newton Rovers for a fixture that nearly did not go ahead, as Stoke also were left in turmoil with the departure of their new manager when seemingly a better offer came from another club. Once again, the volunteers got to work and the rest is history, so a massive well done, and thank you from everybody connected with grassroots football for what you do in a time where just putting a team on a pitch seems to be a massive task. In Division Four, there is a local derby, of sorts, at Millenium Fields, where Windmill host Bere Alston United Seconds in what should be a great game. And in Division Five, two of the unbeaten teams meet at Long Lane, where Newton Albion will welcome free-scoring Paignton Saints Thirds.
Enjoy your grassroots football.