Essam’s The Man: Shane terrorises Newton Rovers Reserves at Windmill Hill with a hat-trick for Waldon Athletic Reserves in Division Four. ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Rain and COVID played havoc with the first Torbay Clearance Services South Devon League fixtures of 2022, with a grand total of five games taking place across the divisions last Saturday.
The Premier Division’s only game was at Paignton Community College, on the 3G surface, where the bottom two sides battled it out for some much-needed points. Doubles from Liam Collings and Thomas Comyn helped Meadowbrook Athletic to a 5-2 win over Barton Athletic, despite Brook finishing the game with ten men following the sending off of goalkeeper Dave Carroll. Having conceded 61 goals in their last three games, Barton can take some comfort from this relatively narrow defeat. Meadowbrook climb several places in the table and end a run of four successive defeats.
In Division Two, Paignton Villa Reserves took on Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police Development on the artificial pitch at South Devon College. The home side took a 4-1 lead with debutant Jack Wilkinson, the returning George Jones, Ashley Beetschen and George Davidson each finding the net. Stoke came back though, to win themselves a point, their goals provided by Mark Newman, Colin Brown, Benn Russel and Sam Healey. “We started the game fantastically,” said Villa manager Sam Cogger. “Every single player played their part in us taking a 3-1 lead at half time with a dominant performance.
“Overall frustrating afternoon against a blend of ALL the Torbay Police teams, where we should have come out with the three points. We really will be a force for the second half of the season.”
Third placed Babbacombe Corinthians will also be looking forward to a productive 2022 as they won 6-1 against Ipplepen Athletic Reserves at Windmill Hill. Curtis Clarke scored a brace and was joined on the score-sheet by Sean Coulson, Harry Denby, Ryan Mellish and substitute Daniel Orchard. In a twist of fate, Corries were also drawn at home to Ipplepen Reserves in the Second Round of the Herald Cup, so Pens will have a chance to make up for their loss in a week’s time.
On the other pitch at Windmill Hill, Waldon Athletic Reserves enjoyed a comfortable win over Newton Rovers Reserves in Division Four. Shane Essam was in fine form and opened the scoring after just 11 minutes, firing home from the edge of the box. 11 minutes later, Charlie Clarke’s low shot found the bottom right corner despite the Rovers’ goalkeeper getting a glove to it. Essam then scored his second, on 39 minutes, dispatching the ball into the bottom left. Waldon could have scored more before the break, but it remained 3-0 until the last ten minutes. Essam then rose at the far post to head home his hat-trick before two wonder strikes in three minutes saw Clarke and Stephen Rohan complete a 6-0 victory. The first was a rocket into the top left, the second a direct free-kick into the top right.
In the other Division Four game, William Allen put away a hat-trick for Watcombe Wanderers Thirds in a 4-3 home victory over Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves. Corey Price also found the net for the Greens with Charlie Charlesworth, Jonty Kingston and Simon Mills scoring for Corries. This time, Babbacombe will have a shot at revenge as they return to Long Lane in the Fred Hewings Cup Second Round in a fortnight.