TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 9th MAY, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of The Windmill contributed by SDFL
Midweek Roundup:
Premier Division:
Windmill managed to put one hand on the title with a 4-1 win over local rivals Plymouth True Blues with four different players hitting the net; with just one game left to play, against the only team that can catch them, the mathematics are as clear as mud, but here we go: Windmill need to win to be champions. A draw, and Lakeside can still equal their points but would then need to score 23 goals in their final six games. One thing for sure is that you could not have written a script for such a close end to the season, and it’s fair to say that the Lakeside Athletic v Windmill game may be worth a watch. Details on that to follow soon.
At the bottom, could the great escape be on? I mentioned last week that Totnes and Dartington needed to win their final four games to avoid the drop and guess what? First one out of the way, and a fine 5-4 victory at East Allington United will have Newton Abbot ’66 and Kingsteignton Athletic looking over their shoulders knowing that both teams need three points to be sure of safety.
Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves edged into the runners up spot with a 4-2 win at Ilsington Villa courtesy of Louis Green, Jacob Wales and Mathew Walliams. Some of the mathematical mud was cleared on Thursday evening when Chudleigh Athletic held Lakeside Athletic to a 2-2 draw leaving Windmill still needing to get three points from their final game to be sure, but one point may be enough if they win their six remaining games and score 23 goals in the process.
Division One:
WBB returned to the top spot with a seven-nil win over Bovey Tracey Reserves whose eyes were probably on Friday’s Dartmouth Cup final. The result drops Mount Gould out of the top two for now, and Elburton Villa Reserves climbed one place with a 3-1 win over Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds, which leaves them with 11 games to play in four weeks, and again the brief is clear: with 54 points as the promotion target, they need to win ten and draw one to be in the top two at the moment, but that will all change as they have to play the top three. At the bottom, Watcombe Wanderers won a six-pointer against Liverton United by five goals to nil, which has given the Greens hope for remaining in Division One and leaves Livvy needing a win to change position. WBB played again on Thursday and continued where they left off on Tuesday. A five-nil win at Buckland Athletic Reserves puts them three points clear at the top, and the top three each have five games to play with those three points separating them.
Division Two:
Ashburton continue to keep two of the top three waiting. A nine-nil win at Upton Athletic means that they can still grab a promotion place, but it is out of their hands. Corries need to win four of their remaining five games to guarantee promotion, but if they only win three of them, then Ashes could nip in at the death if Drake also slip up.
Division Three:
Ipplepen Athletic Reserves moved out of the relegation spots on goal difference with a 3-3 draw against Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds. The result now leaves the door open for Stoke Gabriel TP to claim third place in what has been a difficult division to break into the top two. Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds also played two midweek games and kept up the pressure for a top three finish with a 2-1 win at Waldon Athletic Reserves. Totnes and Dartington Seconds picked up a valuable point in a 1-1 draw versus South Brent, and with games in hand over the two teams above them, they have a opportunity to avoid the drop into Division Four.
Division Four:
Waldon Athletic Thirds keep the top two on their toes with a five-nil win over Broadhempston United. The result leaves Teign Village needing six points from four games to guarantee promotion, and they both face each other in a showdown on 13/05 at 6.30pm at Windmill Hill.
Dartmouth Cup Final:
A few of the SDFL followers thought that this was the best cup final so far this season, and it certainly was the one with a big ending. Bovey missed a one-on-one with the ‘keeper Dan Layer, who made a great save after just four minutes, and that set the tone for the game. Elburton were the better of the sides for long periods, but Bovey looked dangerous going forward. Fin Lyle put Elburton in front on 20 minutes, and it took Bovey until five minutes into the second half to get back on level terms through Ben Moyle, who was keeping the Elburton full-backs on their toes all night. With 20 minutes left on the clock, the goal of the game came from the man of the match Charlie Jones, who struck the ball from 20 yards, and Bovey ‘keeper Mark Perring could only watch it hit the inside of the post and then the back of the net to put Elburton back in the driving seat. The clock ticked passed 90 minutes, and the two benches were in opposite moods. Villa’s was full of shouts at the ref, “How long is there?” “Seven minutes,” declares the referee. As the clock was approaching 94 minutes, a weak cross into the Villa box looked sure to be cleared, but Ben Moyle got his foot in first and the ball trickled past the ‘keeper to bring life to the Bovey bench, and the Villa manager was on his knees wondering, ‘How have they got back into this game?’ Extra-time was now just two minutes away and again, a nothing ball into the Villa box was about to drop into the ‘keeper’s hands only for Sam Barnes to stretch out a leg and and watch the ball bounce past the ‘keeper to put Bovey 3-2 in front, and the two benches were in different moods than just three minutes ago. Fantastic advert for SDFL Division One football and great entertainment.
The SDFL would also like to thank the hosts Ivybridge Town FC for looking after everybody on the night, and I am sure the league will back with more cup finals in the future.
Saturday:
It’s as you were at the top of the Premier Division, with three of the top four teams playing in the Belli Cup semi-finals, where Lakeside Athletic progressed to their second final of the season by beating Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves by five goals to one. The other semi was a bit closer, with Windmill getting the better of Paignton Saints with a 3-2 victory that sets up an all-Plymouth final for the first time in the cup’s long history.
But it’s all change at the bottom, where Buckfastleigh Rangers played a nap hand by winning 4-1 at Ilsington Villa in their final game to leapfrog Newton Abbot ’66 and leave them needing one point from five games to send Rangers into Division One and three points to send Totnes and Dartington on the same journey. As for Ilsington Villa, their season seems to have fizzled out after the defeat in the Herald Cup semi-final. Kingsteignton Athletic had a good result on the road. Their one-nil win at True Blues guarantees Premier Division status thanks to a single strike by Ryan Tovagliari. True Blues, with three games to play, will probably have to settle for a top four place, which is a good return for their first season in the SDFL Premier Division.
Despite WBB taking a six point lead at the top of Division One, it’s still wide open, with four teams in with a chance of promotion. They say that you have to beat the teams around you to make a difference, and Wattsies did just that. A hard-fought 3-2 win versus Mount Gould, with goals from Jake Cuff, Beck Hannah and Leo Dobson-Hill, won the points to put the Claymen in a good place. The result was all the more sweeter for WBB as relegation threatened Watcombe Wanderers beat promotion challengers Barton Athletic at Long Lane by four goals to three. Cieran Bridger, Sean Finch and former WBB player Mike Turner won the game for the Greens to give them five points of breathing space at the bottom. Barton stay in second place on goal difference. Paignton Villa only have two games to play, but following an 8-2 win versus Liverton United, six more points could see them into second place, and then it would be out of their hands; but a top four finish for Villa is on the cards. The final team in with a chance of picking up a promotion place are Elburton Villa Reserves, who need to win ten of their remaining games, in three weeks, to be in the mix, and what makes it more interesting: they still have to play WBB and Barton Athletic. Watch this space.
Division Two is almost done and dusted with Signal Box Oak Villa already presented with the divisional trophy. Corries need six points from four games to be sure of the runners-up spot. Corries enjoyed a 4-1 win at Paignton Villa Seconds, and at the same time, SBOV did them a favour by beating local rivals Drake FC by the same scoreline. David Menhinnet, Jake Gallini and Reuben Riggs were the goalscorers for Villa. At the bottom, Upton Athletic and Newton Rovers will probably be looking forward to winning some games in a lower division next term.
The much-awaited game between the two runaway leaders in Division Three was a classic that went the way of Kingskerswell, who, by beating Galmpton United by three goals to two, return to pole position and will probably stay there. They do, however, need one point to secure the title, from three remaining games, or it would go back to Galmpton if ‘Kerswell lost all three and conceded 18 goals. All bets are off!! The battle for third place is between Stoke Gabriel TP and Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds. Stoke won 4-2 against South Brent, and for some unknown reason, ’66 did not have a game but still have five to play. At the bottom, only four points separate the bottom five teams. Totnes and Dartington Seconds were the only one of those five to win on Saturday with a 4-3 result at Ipplepen Athletic Seconds to leave it all very tight.
In Division Four, already promoted Chudleigh Athletic Seconds still need four points from two games to be sure of the league and cup double. This week, they were taken all the way by Barton Athletic Seconds but scrapped a 2-1 victory to keep them on course, and Teign Village need just two points from three games to join them in a promotion celebration. Should Village implode, then Bere Alston Reserves, Barton Seconds and Waldon Thirds could all catch them. I am afraid that it’s another watch this space.
Games to catch week ending 16th May:
Plainmoor here we come. The SDFL brings two cup finals in two days to Plainmoor, the home of National League South club Torquay United. What a experience the league management committee and Torquay United have provided for the players from grassroots football in South Devon to play in a cup final on the hallowed turf of Plainmoor and everybody involved with the SDFL would like to thank Judd, Tim and their teams at Torquay United for allowing the SDFL to be part of the clubs community program.
Thursday evening 7pm kick off at Plainmoor: Division Three Ronald Cup Final between Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds and Kingskerswell.
With ‘Kerswell having only lost one league game in two seasons, they will start as red hot favourites to complete another league and cup double, but ’66 are a difficult team to beat and, having only lost three league games themselves this term, will definitely put up a fight to win some silverware to complement the new furniture in their clubhouse. Strangely enough, the two teams have not met in the league yet, so there is no barometer. Those two league games have been arranged for the two final games of the season for both teams.
The parking arrangements at Plainmoor are as they would be for a Torquay United game (i.e., street parking), and the club will have food and drinks outlets open on the evening.
Friday evening 7pm kick off at Plainmoor: The Herald Cup Final, proudly sponsored by Torbay Clearance Services.
Paignton Saints v Lakeside Athletic is an all-Premier Division clash of the highest order featuring two teams that have experienced highs and lows during the season, and this experience of a lifetime to play in a Herald Cup final at Plainmoor must top the list. The two teams have played each other twice in the league with Lakeside winning four-nil in Plymouth and 3-2 at Coach Road. Lakeside have an outside chance of league silverware but need three points from their remaining six games, and Saints have certainly got enough in the tank for a top half finish; therefore, this game is the best chance for either team to take home some silverware.
The parking arrangements at Plainmoor are as they would be for a Torquay Utd game (i.e., street parking), and the club will have food and drink outlets open on the evening. You are advised to get there early as this fixture attracts the biggest attendance in the SDFL season.
Enjoy your grassroots football.