TOP FOR NOW: Liverton United Reserves wrapped up their season in Division Four with a comfortable 6–1 win against Chudleigh Athletic Reserves. Photo contributed by SDFL.
TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 18th MAY, report by Alastair Muirden
With only 2 Saturdays remaining in the South Devon League football season, most clubs are now cranking through their remaining games on a school night; this, of course, allows clubs to use all resources available to them.
On Tuesday in the Premier Division, Waldon Athletic, who are going for a top five finish, completed their fixtures with a 3 – 2 win over the season’s Herald Cup winners Newton Abbot ’66; goals from Cole Feasby, Louis Roberts and Frank Major round off a good season for the Torquay side. In the race for the runners-up spot, Morley Rangers slipped up at home to Beesands Rovers by 3 goals to 2; this result will be of interest to Buckfastleigh Rangers and Kingsteignton Athletic who are taking it to the wire. Also in the Premier Division, champions Ilsington Villa got back to winning ways after their Herald Cup final disappointment with a 3 – 2 win against in form Elburton Villa Reserves.
Division One has been a fantastic competition this season, and the 2 teams that moved leagues last year from the Devon Football League have been made to work in this competition; but things are looking as if they may both clinch a promotion berth. But as they say, no fat ladies are singing just yet. Totnes and Dartington closed off their season with a 2 – 1 win versus relegated Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves, a result which returns them to the top, and they will have to wait and see for the other results. James Blackshaw and Jack Whitby were on target for Totnes. Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves are now 5 points off second place with 2 games in hand following an 8 – 2 victory against Paignton Villa; that man Callum Noyce was at it again: another hat-trick and his introduction into the club’s reserve team will have an impact on the outcome of this division. Brixham Town have secured a top five place, and their 2 – 1 win at Buckland Athletic Reserves rounds off a great first season in Division One.
Three games in Division Three that affect the top teams: Watcombe Wanderers and Ashburton had a bore draw meaning that the Greens can win the title with a win at Teign Village on Saturday. Elsewhere, Liverton United move into third place with a 2 – 1 win at rivals South Brent – both of these teams can finish second – and hot on their heels, and another club using resources available to them, in an attempt to get fourth place, Stoke Gabriel TP were able to call on Saul Vanes who scored a hat-trick in a 7 – 3 win over promotion hopefuls Totnes and Dartington Reserves who were disappointed that he has now decided to play recreational football. Totnes have now lost their last 2 games which has effectively taken them out of the promotion race.
At the top of Division Four, Liverton United Reseves have moved 9 points clear of Elburton Villa Thirds, who have 4 games in hand, thanks to a 10 – 1 demolition at Watcombe Wanderers Thirds.
On Wednesday in the Premier Division, Buckfastleigh Rangers wrapped up their season by going 7 points clear into second place with a 3 – 1 win over East Allington United courtesy of goals from Tom Moody and Charlie Morgan (2). Only Morley Rangers or Kingsteignton Athletic can pinch the runners-up spot from the Greens, whilst East Allington United will no doubt have a few discussions about how far short of expectations they fell from their normal top half finish.
In Division One, Ivybridge Town Reserves won their penultimate game with an unconvincing 2 – 1 win over Babbacombe Corries; it puts them into second place, 5 points ahead of Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves who have 3 games in hand; the two meet next week in a must-win game for Ivybridge (details below). As for Corries, they have one game left to secure a point to stay in Division One, and that is on 25th May against Newton Abbot Spurs who could claim the title if they win and other results go their way before then. Watch this space.
One interesting result on Thursday in Division Two was the 3 – 2 victory for Paignton Saints Reserves at Bovey Tracey Reserves; a Keiron Sweet hat-trick not only secured third place in the league for Saints, it inflicted the first defeat of the season for the Moorlanders who, at full-time, were asking each other what just happened. Whilst falling 1 point short of the runners-up spot, Saints must be delighted with winning two cups and a top 3 space following relegation last season.
The big game of the week was on Friday at Dartington Hall, where regular cup finalists and Herald Cup holders Newton Abbot ’66 took on an in form Elburton Villa Reserves team looking for their first silverware since switching from the Plymouth league to the South Devon League. ’66 knew it would be a noisy affair when the 53-seater supporters’ coach arrived, and they did not disappoint with their support before, during and after the game. The game itself could have gone either way, and the referee had a busy night with 8 yellow cards, 4 of which were shown to each of the Elburton Villa defenders, which tells its own story. By the time that the Plymouth team had taken the lead, in the 28th minute through Marley Cunningham, ’66 could have been two goals to the good, but it appeared that last weeks hero had left his first choice of boots at home. The game continued to be scrappy with lots of breaks in play, but once again ’66 always looked as if they could get back into the game, and 2 minutes before the break, Ashley Dove was on the end of a rebound which he struck into the top of the Elburton net. The Newton Abbot team appeared to be getting on top and were looking the more likely to get the second goal, and they had a big penalty shout waved away by the referee when the Elburton goalkeeper appeared to have flattened Tom Lowe inside the box. This decision clearly affected the ’66 players’ concentration and the yellow cards accompanied those frustrations for foul tackles. The game looked destined for extra-time and possibly penalties but as ’66 pushed forward for one last chance to get the winner, they left themselves short at the back, and with 5 minutes left on the clock, Elburton Villa counter-attacked and Cody Jones found himself with a one-on-one with the ’66 keeper and cooly slotted home to take the George Belli Cup back to Plymouth.
Saturday’s league games that affect promotion and relegation:
In the Premier Division, Morley Rangers had a great 5 – 3 win at Kingsteignton Athletic with goals from Corbin and Milo Mackin, Dean Jenkins and Micheal Burke to keep their hopes of the runners-up spot, but they need to win their last 2 games. Kingsteignton can also still get second place if they win their last 3 games and score 12 goals.
Division One will go to the wire. With Saints and Spurs on county cup duty, there were no other movements at either end of the table, but if they both win their mid-week games, they will move into the top two places and claim promotion. The big game is on Thursday when Spurs host Ivybridge Town Reserves, where a win for them would put them top and Saints would need to win their last game to overtake them. All five teams at the top of this division are to be congratulated for making this season one of the most competitive the league has ever seen at this level.
The placings in Division Two are sorted, but Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds must wait to find out if the reserve team can get first or second place in Division One to enable them to progress into that division, and a big credit to the club for being able to run 3 successful teams.
Division Three will also go to the wire; title favourites Watcombe Wanderers seconds will have to wait another week despite a 4 – 2 win at Teign Village thanks to goals from Mike Fieldhouse, Kye Graham and Jamie Macintyre, and that is because Ashburton won at home to Kingsbridge and Kellaton by the same scoreline and Liverton beat Newton Abbot ’66 Reseves by 3 goals to one. All three of these teams can get promoted, but Watcombe need a point from 2 games to win the divisional title. At the bottom, Teign Village must win their final game of the season at Ashburton to stay in this division and send Paignton Saints Thirds into Division Four.
The top two places in Division Four are now between 2 teams: Liverton United Reserves wrapped up their season with a comfortable 6 – 1 win against a Chudleigh Reserves team that finished the game with 10 players. Jamie Chamberlain scored 4 times and Stephen Rohan got 2; that puts Livvy on top for now. Elburton Villa Thirds are 9 points behind but have 4 games to play after their 10 goals to 2 demolition of Broadhempston United. Drake FC, who led this league all season, only have 2 games left so will probably have to settle for third place.
A massive week in the South Devon League coming up, don’t miss these games:
Games to catch this week in the South Devon League:
Tuesday 21st May, 7pm: Kingsteignton Athletic v Ilsington Villa. A classic Premier league game.
Thursday 23rd May, 6.30 pm: Division Three Ronald Cup Final at Liverton United. Stoke Gabriel TP V Watcombe Wanderers Seconds.
Thursday 23rd May, 6.30 pm: Division One promotion decider. Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves v Ivybridge Town Reserves.
Friday 24th May, 7 pm: Division One Dartmouth Cup Final at Stoke Gabriel. Paignton Villa v Buckland Athletic Reserves.
Enjoy your football in the penultimate week.