Category: League Round Up

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17 games survived a Friday downpour – and between them notched up 85 goals!

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 28th FEB, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of The Windmill contributed by SDFL

Windmill FC (pictured) extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division to four points when they quickly got back to winning ways with a 2-1 victory over fellow title contenders Newton Abbot ’66, with goals from Brodie Simpson and Louis Godwin. ’66 now find themselves third from bottom but with enough games in hand to move into second place should they pick up maximum points from them.

True Blues were in cup action against Division Two side Ipplepen Athletic Seconds and the Gers boys made easy work of the game by winning 9-1 and progressing to the next round of the Herald Cup. They stay in second place, but Lakeside Athletic completed a Plymouth one-two-three at the top once again, with a fine four-nil win over Paignton Saints, who slip back into mid-table and are one of five teams with a negative goal difference. The result of the day must be awarded to Chudleigh Athletic for their 5-1 win at Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves; George Davidson, Gavin Hammon, Sam Clarke and Hayden Cox did the damage, but both teams are still considered to be title contenders, although Spurs have lost a bit of ground. It is a great result for Chudleigh who remain a very difficult team to beat. In the basement battle, Kingsteignton Athletic put aside their disappointment of going out of the Herald Cup a week ago to beat Buckfastleigh Rangers by two goals to one thanks to goals from Tom Reeves and Matt Elmore that leaves the visitors and Totnes and Dartington adrift at the bottom.

In Division One, Paignton Villa stay in pole position by virtue of a superior goal difference of just one thanks to a 2-1 home win over bottom club Buckland Athletic Reserves in what is a very tight division and about to get a bit tighter at the bottom as Watcombe Wanderers failed to travel to Mount Gould, gifting them three points and likely to lose three points themselves. Watts Blake Bearne were the big movers in this division, up three places to second with a great two-nil win at Brixham Town thanks to goals from Jay Orchard and Ryan Clarke. Town now drop to fourth following another home reverse that could come back to haunt them, but with only five points separating the top six teams, this division will go to the wire. Beesands Rovers moved back into third place with a comfortable 10-nil win at Liverton United. The transfer of Louis Brace from True Blues back to Beesands went through in the morning of the fixture, and it took him just 14 seconds to pay back the transfer fee by putting the Bees in front. Brad Williams completed a hat-trick and Sid Baker, Joe Craig and Alex Watts also found the net. Liverton were reduced to ten players after just ten minutes when Oli Shelton was carried off with an injury, but he was walking again when the food came out.

Division Two is no longer as close as the other divisions as Signal Box Oak Villa moved 13 points clear with a tough 4-2 win at fellow contenders Ashburton. Callum Austin, Joe Haslem and Jordan Rickards were on target for the Plymouth side who now look unstoppable. East Allington United Reserves moved into third place with a close 2-1 victory over Harbertonford, and Paignton Saints Seconds moved up to fifth place with a two-nil win over Newton Rovers.

Galmpton United are the new leaders of Division Three following a thumping 11-1 win over bottom team Waldon Athletic Reserves who are one of three teams level on four points at the bottom. The Greens are now three points clear of Kingskerswell who remain unbeaten in the league, but ‘Kerswell have four games in hand. Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds showed just how much they have improved this season. A 3-3 draw with Stoke Gabriel TP keeps both teams in the lower part of mid-table and safe from the drop. However, SGTP will be hoping to put their games in hand to good use for a top six finish. In an all-Division Three cup game, Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds made it through to the semi-final of the Fred Hewings Cup with a close 2-1 victory at Totnes and Dartington Seconds. Mark Prowse scored both goals for the Rams who will need to wait for the semi-final draw on 16th March to find out who the opposition will be. Still in the competition, and as a Division One team, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds are the favourites to lift the trophy. Also through to the semi-final are Barton Athletic Reserves from Division Four. They had a great result thanks to two goals from Alfie Butler that knocked out Division Three side Liverton United Reserves. Simon Ross scored a late consolation for Livvy, but the Blues held out against an experienced team that ran out of steam.

Division Four has a different look at the top as Paignton Villa Thirds moved into second place with a 2-1 win at Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. The result breaks up the Chudleigh Athletic Seconds and Teign Village dominance that has been in place since the start of the season. Brixham Town Seconds have moved up to fifth place and are only seven points from second, with three games in hand, thanks to a 4-1 win versus bottom team Newton Rovers Seconds at Bakers Park. The top six could all feature in the promotion race, and down in seventh place, Waldon Athletic Thirds remain unbeaten but have only played five games, which should be a concern for both league and club.

Games to catch on the first Saturday of spring!!

Some cracking games to watch on Saturday 7th March: In the top division, in-form Chudleigh will come face to face with The Windmill at Kate Brook, and there is a Newton Abbot derby at the Rec when Spurs meet ’66, and in the South Hams, East Allington United welcome Ilsington Villa to Poole Lane. In Division Two, Babbacombe Corries face Ashburton at Long Lane, which could be a game that tilts the favourites to finish in the runners-up spot, and in Division Four, its second versus first at White Rock when Paignton Villa Thirds meet Chudleigh Athletic Seconds.

Most of the divisional cups get started this week, and all fixtures are on the league’s full time webpage and in the relevant cup sections of this website.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

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49 out of 50 days with rain and just seven games are played – but Ilsington Villa are in seventh heaven

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 21st FEB, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Ilsington Villa contributed by SDFL

The game of the day went ahead at Lewthorne Cross between two teams with title hopes in mind, and it was Ilsington Villa who came out on top against a very good Windmill side by two goals to one, thanks to strikes from George Dixon and Jamie Beer.

The result opens up the division again, and seven of the teams are now within touching distance of the top two if they win their games in hand. Ilsington are one of the seven, and they move into seventh place with four games in hand. The current champions, Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves, continue to fire on all cylinders and a 6-nil win versus bottom of the table Totnes and Dartington puts them into fifth place with two games in hand to make up a seven point deficit. The Totnes team have had an awful first half of the season, and their only win, against Lakeside back in September, must seem a long time ago. Lakeside Athletic gave up home advantage to an improving Buckfastleigh Rangers to get their delayed Herald Cup game played, and the game went as planned for the Plymouth side who returned home with a place in the next round after a 6-2 victory. The other Herald Cup tie played was at Kingsteignton Athletic in front of a big crowd, and on treacle-like conditions, where the visitors were in form East Allington United. They came away with a 2-1 victory in a game that was short on quality mainly due to the conditions and, it has to be said, a lot of missed chances in front of goal. The game was nil-nil at the break, and within six minutes of the second half, East Allington had a two goal lead thanks to Rob Tapper and an unfortunate own goal. The Rams won a penalty in the 80th minute that was tucked away by Ashton Hogarth to give them some hope, but those missed chances continued to haunt them, and the visitors held out to meet Division Two side Ivybridge Town Reserves in the next round.

Barton Athletic stirred the pot in Division One by beating Bovey Tracey Reserves 6-2, and they are now just four points off the top spot and have two games in hand. Bovey stay in seventh place, eight points off the top and with four games in hand. In fact, there are now eight contenders for promotion in this division, and one of them is Elburton Villa Reserves who suffered another postponement and have only played six league games so far and still have 16 to play in the league and an interest in three cups. It is sure to be a busy end of season for them.

In Division Two, it was a weekend of double joy for East Allington United, as their reserves moved up a place to fourth following a 4-nil win at a squelchy Bakers Park which is not famous for surviving wet weather. Goals from Sam Quick, Rob Hutchings and a brace from Aiden Corcoran sealed the points for the Pirates who now only have seven games left to play!!! Another team with the same number of games left to play are Paignton Saints Seconds who beat Harbertonford in a seven goal thriller by the odd goal at Coach Road. Mykytya Chernetski found the net twice, and there were singles for Darren Millea and Mike Hernandez. The result puts Saints into the top half and only five points off of third place with a superior goal advantage.

Devon County Cup Action

Watts Blake Bearne travelled to Tiverton to take on Elmore Seconds in the quarter-final of the Senior Cup which, by the way, has been in the safe hands of a South Devon League club for the past two seasons, and they once again raised their game to beat the mid-Devon side by three goals to two. Strikes from Cam Gill, Fraser Hossack and Sam Stowell ensured a county cup semi-final for Wattsies to look forward too. In the same competition, favourites Mount Gould surprisingly lost at home to South Zeal United by four goals to three, and they can now concentrate on making up some of their games in hand in the league program. South Zeal are they only non-South Devon League club left in the competition and join Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds or Elburton Villa Reserves; Bovey Tracey Reserves and WBB in the semi final.

In the Intermediate Cup, the unthinkable happened when favourites Kingskerswell were beaten by three goals to one at Bampton to leave South Brent as the only South Devon League club with an interest in this competition. They play Alphington Thirds on 28th February at Palstone Park, 2pm KO.

Games to catch on Saturday 28th February

There are some intriguing games this week, and none less than a moorland cup derby at Division One Bovey Tracey Reserves where the visitors are Premier Division Ilsington Villa who will be looking to keep a cup run going. In the top division, Windmill will be hoping to get back to winning ways when Newton Abbot ’66 pay a visit to Millennium Fields, and at the bottom of the division, there is a six-pointer at Broadpark where Kingsteignton Athletic host Buckfastleigh Rangers in a don’t lose game. Two of the top division’s challengers, Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves and Chudleigh Athletic face each other in what should be a great game at the Rec. The top game in Division One is at Abbrook Park where its second versus third; WBB host Paignton Villa, and with both teams level on points, it should be a cracker of a game. Division Two offers what could be two fantastic games to watch, weather permitting: Ashburton welcome top of the table Signal Box Oak Villa to Chuley Road for the first time, and Drake FC host a Babbacombe Corries side looking to get back to winning ways again. In Division Four, Bere Alston United Reserves, in fourth place, host Teign Village in second in a game that will no doubt affect the top three places at the referee’s final whistle.

Enjoy your grassroots football. Spring is just around the corner.

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17 games finally beat the weather with 11 going ahead on grass!

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 14th FEB, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of The Windmill contributed by SDFL

Only one Premier Division league game went ahead, and it was at Poole Lane where East Allington United moved into third place to disrupt the Plymouth dominance with a hard fought 4-2 win over fellow title contenders Newton Abbot ’66.

Ben Tapper scored a brace, there was an unfortunate own goal, and a special mention to Finn Bullen who also got on the scoresheet to notch up his 147th goal in his 150th appearance. The result was not a disaster for Sixes, as they remain within touching distance of second place if they win their five games in hand.

Two league games were played in Division One, with Brixham Town returning to pole position with a payback win against Beesands Rovers by four goals to one, and with just two points separating the top four teams, this, like other divisions, will go to the wire. Mount Gould also got a game played, and a 3-nil win versus bottom club Buckland Athletic Rerserves sees them into fifth place with four games in hand; Bentley Alcantara was a hat-trick hero, and the home team were full of praise for the way the visitors approached the game and stated that Buckland were one of the better teams they have played this season, and they could do with a win to give them some confidence for what’s left of the season.

In Division Two, every team bar Watcombe Wanderers played a game, and in the league, the top two fixture turned out to be a one-sided affair, with Signal Box Oak Villa running rampant against Babbacombe Corries with a 7-1 win to move ten points clear at the top. On target for Villa were Joseph Haslem and Jake Cribb (two apiece), with singles from Bobby Stone, Coy Breirley and Keiron Roberts. Corries remain in second with a game in hand and will be hoping that Ashburton, in eighth place, can use their five games in hand to inflict a defeat on the leaders to open it up again. Drake FC got back to winning ways with a close 2-nil win over Paignton Villa Seconds and remain as contenders with two games in hand and just seven points from Corries. Ivybridge Town Reserves hold on to third place, thanks to a bruising 8-nil win over Newton Rovers at Erme Valley, and are two points behind Corries having played two more games. Paignton Saints Reserves had a good result on the day. A 4-1 win at Coach Road versus East Allington United Reserves moves Saints into the bottom of a mid-table group of teams that can beat any team on their day, and I am sure there are more rollercoaster results to come in this division.

In Division Three, just two league games went ahead, and perennial underachievers Stoke Gabriel TP Reserves moved away from the bottom three with a comfortable 6-nil win versus Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds. The result leaves Stoke with five games in hand and within touching distance of second place if they can win them. Rangers remain in seventh place in a division that seems to be split in two halves. Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves moved into fourth place with a 3-nil win over bottom team Waldon Athletic Reserves. Goals from squad players Tom Reeves, Kelsey Leach and Ashley Hayworth keeps the Rams in contention in a division where somebody needs to beat the two runaway leaders to open it up.

At the top of Division Four, Chudleigh Athletic Seconds extended their lead to six points as a result of beating Broadhempston United by eight goals to one. They were also assisted by Paignton Villa Thirds who beat Teign Village by two goals to one, in a scrappy affair, and move within one point of Village into third place. Another contender at the moment are Bere Alston Reserves who had a walkover as Paignton Saints Thirds could not raise a team for the fixture; that leaves Alston just two points from Village, but Brixham Town Seconds, Barton Athletic Seconds and Waldon Athletic Thirds, who are still unbeaten, all have games in hand to have a final say in where this division’s honours will end up.

There were seven cup ties that either survived the rain or were played on an artificial pitch, and they all went with the form book.

In the Torbay Clearance Services-sponsored Herald Cup, the biggest scoreline of the day belonged to Ipplepen Athletic Seconds who put 13 goals past Upton Athletic and end this season’s cup hopes for the Torquay side, and Elburton Villa Reserves saw off the challenge from Harbertonford by six goals to nil in a game that was played at Plymstock School. There were two other fixtures that paired teams from different divisions, and Galmpton United (Division Three) gave Windmill (Premier, pictured) a real fright, but the Plymouth-based team got over the line with a 3-2 victory and a reason to celebrate their place in the quarter-final. WBB (Division One) switched their tie against Ashburton (Division Two) to the Ashmoor 3g at South Dartmoor School, and they needed an 85th minute penalty to seal the game. Ashes gave up a 2-nil lead, but a second-half hat-trick from substitute Jake Cuff sees the Claymen into their second cup quarter-final this season.

The Fred Hewings Cup is also at the quarter-final stage, and the highest-ranked reserve team left in the competition, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds, are safely through with a 5-nil win over Brixham Town Seconds thanks to goals from Zak Carnell, Oliver Bellotti, Nik Garrett and Frank Oyrnik. Joining them are Totnes and Dartington Seconds who enjoyed a 5-nil win over Newton Rovers Seconds. There was a hat-trick for Owen Osman, with singles from Jake Osman and Jordan Baxter. The teams won’t have long to wait for the quarter-finals, as they are fixtured for 21st February.

Games to catch on Saturday 21st February:

Match of the day is at Lewthorne Cross, where Ilsington Villa will be looking to close the gap on visitors Windmill in what should be a great advert for the league. Elsewhere, Chudleigh Athletic face Newton Abbot ’66 who will be looking to get back to winning ways, and in the Herald Cup, Kingsteignton Athletic and East Allington United will have some deja vu when they meet at 2pm. There will also be more of that at Long Lane, when Babbacombe Corries meet Signal Box for the second week running and will be looking to put up a better show than last week. In Division Four, Bere Alston United host Chudleigh Athletic Seconds, and Teign Village face Brixham Town Seconds in what should be two great games.

Finally, the SDFL have a number of teams looking to progress in county cups, and all are at the quarter-final stage. WBB travel to Tiverton to play Elmore Seconds, Mount Gould face South Zeal, and in the same competition, Elburton Villa travel to Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds in an all-SDFL tie. In the Intermediate Cup, Kingskerswell travel up the North Devon link road to face Bampton, and in the same cup, South Brent welcome Alphington Thirds to Palstone Park. Good luck to all of the SDFL teams in the county cups.

League games start at 2.30pm. Cup games start at 2pm.

Enjoy your grassroots football!

newton abbot spurs reserves

Clubs think outside the box to get games played

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 31st JAN, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves contributed by SDFL

Devon Premier Cup quarter-final

The last SDFL survivors in the county Premier Cup, Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds (pictured), made the trip to Step 7 club Alphington on Thursday evening to play the twice-postponed fixture on the 3g at Exwick, and in the end they just fell short. Goals from Matt Williams and Lewis Jordain-Garner were not enough against the team sitting at the top of the Devon League, and the Exeter side were able to find the net on five occasions leaving the final four teams in the competition all coming from Step 7, and all four could be playing at Step 6 SWPL next season. So well done to Spurs and Ilsington Villa from the Torbay Clearance Services League for reaching the quarter-finals.

Again. the weather spoiled the weekend’s grassroots program making play impossible on grass, and with only four games surviving this week’s storm, Windmill FC became the latest team to hire a 3g pitch to get a game played, and with Chudleigh Athletic the visitors to Ivybridge School, it pitched the two teams in the top division with the meanest defences having both conceded just 12 goals each so far this season. The game, as expected, turned out to be a tight and messy affair; it ended with a 2-1 win for the home team thanks to goals from Miles Hunt and Jack Briscoe, which takes them one point ahead of True Blues at the top of the Premier Division, and for the first time in the league’s history, Plymouth-based teams hold the top three places, as Lakeside Athletic came away from Coach Road with all three points in a very entertaining game versus Paignton Saints. The final result was 3-2, but Saints will be kicking themselves. Had it not been for their missed goalscoring chances, the outcome could have been very different. However, Lakeside can also claim a host of missed chances, but they will be pleased to get David Moore, who scored a brace, and JJ Honeywell back in goal-scoring form and completing a Plymouth one, two and three for the end of January. The only disappointment for the visitors would have been to finish the game with ten players courtesy of a last minute sin bin. Strangely enough, the biggest challengers to the top three currently sit in sixth, seventh and eight place with a number of games in hand, and if they could only get them played, the division should open up again.

In Division Two, Signal Box Oak Villa have opened up a seven point lead at the top albeit having played more games. A 5-3 victory at the Manadon 3g over close neighbours Ivybridge Town Reserves, thanks to goals from Callum Austin, Harley Mitchell, Bobby Stone and a brace for Finley Demsey Comerford, sees Villa extend their lead to realistically leave Corries and Ashburton as their main challengers at the moment.

In Division Four, Teign Village managed to keep the pressure on the leaders with a close 2-1 win versus Paignton Saints Thirds at South Devon College 3g (full report on Daves World). Goals from Alex Easson and Tom Beer sealed the points for the village team in a division that is looking like a two horse race depending on what unbeaten Waldon Athletic Thirds can do with their games in hand.

Games to hopefully catch on Saturday 7th February:

The Third Round of the Herald Cup, kindly sponsored by Torbay Clearance Services, has produced some belters as cup ties go.

There is a moorland derby at Mill Marsh Park (river levels permitting), where Premier Division Ilsington Villa play an in form Bovey Tracey Reserves from Division One. Division Three side Galmpton United host Premier Division side Windmill, who will need to be at their best to beat a team that are upwardly mobile. And then there are two virtual local derbies: Lakeside Athletic face a Buckfastleigh Rangers side with a large Cornish contingent, and Paignton Saints welcome Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves to their Coach Road ground in a fixture that will definitely go ahead. Harbertonford may have to switch their game to Elburton Villa to get it played. Having seen the amount of water on the pitch, I don’t think the RNLI will allow it to be played at the Steve Jane ground.

In the league’s Division Two, Ashburton travel to Ivybridge Town Reserves, and with both teams looking for promotion, it could be a great game.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

tom reeves kingsteignton athletic v joey burton windmill herald cup final 2022

8 Games survive a wet week and an explosive situation in South Devon

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 17th JAN, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Tom Reeves ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR

Just eight games managed to survive not only a wet week in South Devon but an explosive situation uncovered by a player in Plymouth.

Plymouth True Blues continue to lead the way at the top of the Premier Division, A single strike from Dylan Holgate was just enough to get past a dogged performance from Paignton Saints at Millbay Park; True Blues’ lead at the top remains at two points as they move into the second phase of their fixtures. Not only were they concerned about the game going ahead due to the weather, one of their players, Caleb Needham, just happened to be part of the team that uncovered an unexploded World War Two bomb that was inside the exclusion zone set up by the bomb squad. Fortunately, it was dealt with, and the exclusion was lifted on Friday.

Whilst there are still five teams that can surpass True Blues with maximum points from their games in hand, Windmill FC are best placed, at the moment, to win that race following an impressive 5-1 win at East Allington United. Brodie Simpson and Jack Briscoe both scored a brace, and former golden boot winner Corbin Mackin scored a single to keep the Plymouth side two points behind the leaders with three games in hand.

Buckfastleigh Rangers won a league game for the first time since 18th October, but what a big win it was. A 2-1 home result against Kingsteignton Athletic moves them to within four points of the Rams who, from nowhere, seem to have been dragged into a relegation battle. Tom Reeves (pictured) scored for the visitors, but it was two goals from Lewis Clarke that sealed the game for Buckfastleigh who will be looking to use their newfound confidence wisely.

The five teams that can overtake the leaders with games in hand are Windmill FC, Lakeside, Newton Abbot ’66, Chudleigh Athletic and Ilsington Villa, and not to forget that Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves and East Allington United can get within two points of them, which sets the division up for a cracking second half of the season.

In Division One, only one game beat the weather, and it was the turn of Barton Athletic to heap more disappointment on Brixham Town who, just three games ago, were looking towards the Premier Division. This week’s set back was a 5-nil home defeat, and goals from Oakley Hunt, Dom Lavalee, Eden Cresswell Cluer and Louie Roberts sealed a great win for the Blues and keeps them in contention with games in hand. Town remain one point off the lead in what is a compacted top four, and with four other teams just outside the pack, this is going to go to the wire with some great six-pointers to look forward too.

No league games survived in Division Two, so it’s as you were with Signal Box Oak Villa in pole position, four points ahead of unbeaten Babbacombe Corries. Ivybridge Town Reserves, Ashburton and Drake FC are the most likely teams to spoil the party for the top two in the attempt to reach Division One next term.

In Division Three, Galmpton United moved level on points with the leaders Kingskerswell with a comfortable 7-1 win against an improving Buckfastleigh Rangers second team. A hat-trick for Harley Hooper and singles from Harrison Arnold, Greg Hindom, Max Prestwood and Austin White was a good payback for club stalwart and groundsman Mike Drew who, having picked his moments during the wet weather to prepare the pitch to a level that allowed a footballing side to play the way they did, deserves a shout out. Well done Mike, and thank you for what you do for South Devon League football.

The division is looking like a two horse race at the moment, but South Brent, Liverton United Reserves, Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds and Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds all have games in hand; but the top two are the two to beat.

Two league games went ahead in Division Four, and Chudleigh Athletic Seconds moved six points clear at the top with an unconvincing 2-1 success at Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. It took a double strike from Jack Salmons to win a game that the home team deserved at least a point from. Paignton Villa Thirds moved into third place with a fine 7-1 victory in the derby game versus Paignton Saints Thirds; Lucas Burgess was the star of the show with four goals, and Martin McHugh weighed in with a hat-trick that leaves the young Villa team in a good place.

County Cup Reports:

Ilsington Villa bowed out of the county Premier Cup against Step 7 side Plymouth Marjon by four goals to one. Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves’ quarter-final game versus Alphington was postponed and will be played on 24th January, and the winners will join the remaining three Step 7 teams in the semi-finals.

The situation in the Senior Cup for SDFL teams is a lot better, and remember, the SDFL has produced the last two winners of the competition. Bovey Tracey Reserves, Mount Gould, Drake FC, WBB, Paignton Villa, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds and Elburton Villa Reserves all have to play for a place in the quarter-finals this week.

Still representing the SDFL in the Intermediate Cup are Kingskerswell and South Brent. ‘Kerswell had a good 2-nil win at Bow, and Brent won a real tussle of a game 5-3 at home to Putford.

Games to catch on Saturday 24th January:

There are two stand-out games in the Premier Division this week and, depending on the outcome, could give two of the teams a mountain to climb to get back into the race for the title or just open the whole division up for grabs.

Ilsington Villa take on Windmill FC at Lewthorne Cross in a fixture that should show the very best of grassroots football, and in Newton Abbot, ’66 play True Blues; that is sure to be full of incident.

In Division One, Brixham Town face another stiff test, as Liverton United pay a visit to the seaside looking to upset the Fishermen.

In Division Two, all eyes will be on Ashburton to see if they can slow the progress of Babbacombe Corries and join them in the top three with a win, and Kingskerswell host third-placed Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds who will hope to be the first team to win a league game at the Kerswell Bowl. Over in Torquay, there should be an interesting game at Barton Downs, where Barton Reserves host Bere Alston United in a fixture that has both teams looking to stay in touch of the leading two who just happen to meet at The Village: Teign Village versus Chudleigh Athletic Seconds is the much-awaited game in Division Four and should be a great advert for grassroots football and a real six-pointer.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

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South Devon’s groundstaff win the day over storm Goretti

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 10th JAN, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Ilsington Villa contributed by SDFL

With just a handful of weather-related postponements, the South Devon Football League were able to not only catch up with the delayed Herald Cup fixtures, but also get some much needed league games played.

There were several massive results across the divisions, and we can start at East Allington United, who moved into third place with a comprehensive three-nil win against the league leaders, with goals from Finn Bullen and Finn Billingham which will get the home team over the disappointment of their previous week’s result; the result leaves True Blues still at the summit but with a game more in the bank. Chudleigh Athletic had yet another great result. A 3-1 home win over Paignton Saints, with goals from Kia Stocker and a double from Gavin Lake, lets them leapfrog Ilsington Villa (pictured) and create a seven point gap between themselves and any danger. Kingsteignton Athletic also had a very important victory in a six-pointer at the wrong end of the table; a 2-1 win over Totnes and Dartington lets the Rams join Chudleigh and Ilsington on that seven point gap. The result leaves the visitors joint bottom with Buckfastleigh Rangers, who were on Herald cup duty. Lakeside Athletic finally got a league game played; after four postponements and two cup games, the last time they played in the league was 1st November. But it was worth the wait. A much needed three points, with a close 3-2 win over the reigning champions Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves, with goals from Carlton Allen, Adam Carter and Taylor Owen, puts them not where they want to be but six points behind the second placed team with no games in hand over them.

Two Premier Division teams played in the Herald Cup over lower league opposition, and whilst the results went to form, both teams took a different route. Ilsington Villa put 14 goals past Division Two side Newton Rovers, who never gave up at Bakers Park; Dan Langford was the star of the show with six goals on the day, and there were hat-tricks for brother Jack and James Kervella.

In the A38 derby game at Division Three outfit South Brent, a shock was, at several times, on the cards, but Buckfastleigh Rangers dug in and took the game to extra time after it ended 3-3. Fortunately, the visitors did not need a penalty shootout, as new signing Dylan Rangecroft popped up with a fine strike to give Buckfastleigh their first taste of victory since 18th October and a place in the hat for Round Three, which will be drawn on Monday 19th January.

Nerves must be setting in at the top of Division One with the strangest set of results in one day that I can remember. There are now eight teams that are in the mix for promotion after this week’s results. Barton Athletic put in a shift at Mount Gould, and a 1-1 draw was no less than they deserved, and to come away from Plymouth with points is a feat that not many will achieve. The result leaves the Torquay side eight points off the lead with two games in hand, and who would bet against them? Beesands Rovers came from behind twice to move joint top with a hard fought 3-2 win at Brixham Town, with goals from Joe Craig (2) and Jack Hopkiss. Beesands have now reached the halfway point with fixtures, and Town have now lost two on the bounce, but both are just one point short of Paignton Villa who drew 1-1 with Bovey Tracey Reserves at South Devon College in a game where the draw seemed to be a fair result and keeps Villa top of the division by just one point. The two teams that benefited the most from this week’s results were WBB (postponed) and Elburton Villa Reserves (cup duty); they remain eight points behind Villa in seventh place with four games in hand, in a very competitive competition.

The final Division One team in action was Buckland Athletic Reserves who hosted Galmpton United from Division Three, and it turned out to be a great game of football in front of a good attendance, and the underdogs from Galmpton had a great result by winning by four goals to one, which keeps their good restart to life in the SDFL on track.

In Division Two, Signal Box Oak Villa remain on track for their next station stop (Div 1) after a comfortable afternoon at Armada Park with a 9-1 win over Upton Athletic who will be glad to see the last of the Plymouth outfit having lost twice to them in the last month, and hopefully they can pick up some points from here on in. Babbacombe Corries’ unbeaten record is still intact, but they dropped a couple of points in their 2-2 draw with Paignton Villa Seconds; Alex Chamberlain and Joshua Easterbrook were on target for Corries who remain in second place, four points behind the leaders but with a game in hand. Drake FC also lost some ground on the leading pack, as they were held to a 3-3 draw at home against East Allington United Seconds, and both teams are now in mid-table. Drake’s two games in hand are now just a bit more valuable, but they have to win them first.

In the Herald Cup, Division Two side Ashburton made short work of Bere Alston United from Division Four with a four-nil win, and a big shout out to Watcombe Wanderers Seconds who nearly folded in December but managed to not only get a team on the pitch, they managed to beat in form Chudleigh Athletic Seconds in the Fred Hewings Cup; Jordan Peircy and Will Godfrey were on target with club legend Sean Finch helping out with a hat-trick.

Just the one league game in Division Three, and Liverton United Seconds won 8-1 versus Waldon Athletic Seconds thanks to goals from Kye Graham, Tom Roddy, Oliver West, George Stahlman, Steve Reilly and Harvey Kendall. The result leaves Livvy safe in mid-table and the Clarets joint bottom with Ipplepen Athletic Reserves and T&D Seconds. Interestingly, Stoke Gabriel TP Reserves are fourth from bottom with five games in hand, and if they won them, they would be a top three team.

At the top of Division Four, Teign Village moved within three points of the leaders Chudleigh Athletic with a six-nil victory over Paignton Saints Thirds; they also have a game in hand. Paignton Villa Thirds remain well-placed, and a 4-2 win at Broadhempston United puts them into fourth place and completes half of their fixtures for the season.

Two of the division’s sides were in cup action, and Kingsbridge and Kellaton United could not match Division Two side Ivybridge Town Reserves in the Herald Cup and had to endure a seven-nil defeat at Loddiswell, whilst Barton Athletic Seconds caused a shock by knocking out Division Two side Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds by five goals to two to give the club a good weekend of results.

Games to catch on Saturday 17th January:

There are three very interesting games that could shape the look of the division for January. In-form Chudleigh Athletic face a Lakeside Athletic team at Kate Brook with both teams desperate for a clean January. East Allington United are also looking for a bit more consistency but have, out of the blue, set up a third v second game at Poole Lane; a result against Windmill could set them up for the second half of the program. In Division One, there is a promotion six-pointer at JC park, where Brixham Town face Barton Athletic in what should be a great game. Division Two offers some watchable games with Ashburton paying a visit to Watcombe Wanderers Seconds, and the visitors will be hoping for a repeat of the home tie which ended 24-nil, but the Greens will be out for revenge and to show how far they have come since October. Ivybridge Town will not have their own way when Paignton Villa Seconds travel to Erme Valley looking to bring some points home, and in Division Three, there is a local derby at Broadpark where Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds host Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds, and with both teams on the cusp of a position challenge, this could be a cracker, and finally, in Division Four, unbeaten Waldon Athletic Thirds take their record to Bere Alston United, and the only thing they will be hoping to lose is their jet lag on route.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

Saints and Broads serve up a Christmas feast on fair play Friday

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 20th DEC, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Watts Blake Bearne contributed by SDFL

Was this really a game between two of the bottom three teams in Division Four? The pace and quality of the play had many of the 100 plus supporters scratching their heads for answers.

It took just two minutes for Saints to get the opening goal from Keiron Seatherton who went on to get the Man of the Match award, but they could only hold on to that lead for nine minutes until the other contender for Man of the Match, Dan Wells, equalised with a goal that would grace any fixture in any division. Saints were under a lot of pressure, and their full-backs were not up to speed with Broads’ Ben Muller, and just four minutes after, they drew level; Muller ran past three defenders and pulled the ball back to the edge of the box, where Dan Wells side-footed a curling shot into the top right-hand corner, and both sets of supporters could do nothing else but applaud the finish. With just 12 minutes on the clock, and the score already at 2-1, it was turning into a great game. With play end-to-end and and two more Saints goals from Keiron Seatherton and Darren Millea and, in first-half stoppage time, yet another equaliser from Stuart Hanney sent the supporters for a welcome hot chocolate, and at 3-3, all the talk in the clubhouse was about the quality of the goals, and it had the writer checking to see if his pre-match prediction of 6-6 was actually on his super six selection.

The dynamic of the game seem to change in the second half as Saints were clearly more used to playing on a 3g pitch, and the legs of the Broads players seemed to be getting heavy, and one or two challenges were either too early or too late depending on your speed. but the referee kept good control and did not need to show any cards to either of the two best teams on the discipline charts. Then came a managerial masterclass from Saints when Dylan Cousins was introduced from the bench and he not only upped the pace of the game for Saints, but went on to score two great goals to seal the win 5-3 for the home team in what was a night to remember for both outfits. The result puts Saints one of three teams on nine points, and whilst still third from bottom, they are the second highest goal scorers in the division. At the other end, they are the league’s highest conceders of goals having let in 58 which is 22 more than Broadhempston United who remain second from bottom, two points behind Saints but with four games in hand. Just one other stat is that Saints only have eight league games remaining to finish the season.

The only other league game played was in Division One where Watts Blake Bearne (pictured) climbed onto the top of the table for Christmas with a well-earned 4-nil win at Bovey Tracey Reserves; Jake Cuff, Cam Gill, Ashton Sowerby and Fraser Hossack were all on target for the Claymen who were good value for the win. Bovey lost their goalkeeper in the 51st minute with a red card following a moment of madness which gave them a mountain to climb. Bovey remain in fifth place. seven points off the lead but with three games in hand, and Wattsies leapfrog Brixham Town and Paignton Villa to lead the division by one point going into the Christmas break. This remains a very competitive division with eight teams still in the mix to gain promotion to the Premier Division

The second round of the Herald Cup has thrown up some great ties that will be fixtured for 3rd January with a 2pm kick off.

  • Newton Rovers (Div 2) v Ilsington Villa (Premier)
  • Ashburton (Div 2) v Bere Alston United (Div 4)
  • Paignton Saints (Premier) v Babbacombe Corries (Div 2)
  • WBB (Div 1) v Signal Box Oak Villa (Div 2)
  • Bovey Tracey Reserves (Div 1) v Paignton Villa (Div 1)
  • Kingsteignton Athletic (Premier) v East Allington United (Premier)
  • Buckland Athletic Reserves (Div 1) v Galmpton United (Div 3)
  • Kingsbridge/Kellaton (Div 4) v Ivybridge Town Reserves (Div 2)
  • Newton Abbot ’66 (Premier) v Chudleigh Athletic (Premier)
  • Broadhempston United (Div 4) v Windmill (Premier)
  • Barton Athletic (Div 1) v Lakeside Athletic (Premier)
  • Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves (Premier) v Teign Village (Div 4)
  • Ipplepen Athletic Reserves (Div 3) v Upton Athletic (Div 2)
  • Plymouth True Blues (Premier) v Stoke Gabriel TP (Div 3)
  • Harbertonford (Div 2) v Elburton Villa Reserves (Div 1)
  • South Brent (Div 3) v Buckfastleigh Rangers (Premier)

Enjoy your grassroots cup football.

the windmill dartmouth cup winners 2025

Signal Box score 17 in one of three games to survive the rain

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 6th DEC, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of The Windmill contributed by SDFL

Only three games survived another Friday downpour with the league issuing a wet weather protocol for the third time in six weeks.

In the Premier Division, Paignton Saints had a great result against East Allington United on the 3g at Coach Road (full report and photos available on Daves World) A 3-nil win, with goals from Cairo Broadway, Billy Reay and Brandon Kelly, moves Saints into fourth place and just three points off second place. A disappointing afternoon for the in form Pirates who remain in fifth place with the same points tally as Saints.

In Division Two, Upton Athletic travelled to the Manadon 3g to face an unforgiving Signal Box Oak Villa team looking to stay in pole position. The visitors travelled with the bare eleven and were reduced to ten early in the game through injury, and the home team went on to score every five minutes ending up with 17 on the score card. There were ten different scorers, but Callum Austin, Jordan Rickards and Finley Comerford scored hat tricks. The result puts Signal Box five points clear of Corries who have two games in hand. Upton remain bottom of the table, but fair play to them for travelling and doing their best in squalid conditions.

Division Four was able to offer Paignton Villa Thirds the chance to welcome Kingsbridge and Kellaton United to South Devon College in what was a game dominated by the wind. Villa secured their third win of the campaign with a fine 6-2 victory over the visitors from the South Hams; goals from Martin McHugh, two from Stuart McCauley and a hat-trick for Tom Bintcliffe leapfrogs Villa above the visitors into sixth place and just five points from second with a game in hand.

Another blank week will have many teams wondering when these games will be played and how many mid-week games will there be in April and May. Well, there are still 23 playing Saturdays until the end of the season, so if we look at the best and worst case scenario in each division to make it clearer: Premier – three teams have only played six games so have 16 still to play. If they do well in the cups, that could add another six games to the list, therefore it is possible that some may not need to rely on mid-week games. It also means that the division could probably take another five wet Saturdays until we need to have a closer look at the calendar. The best case are True Blues who are just one game short of playing half of their fixtures and have 12 league games to play in 23 weeks.

Division One is slightly worse off with three teams still having 17 fixtures to fit into 23 Saturdays. 2 of those teams, Bovey Tracey Reserves and Mount Gould, are likely to have seven or eight cup games as well to manage, so as we stand, those two are fairly sure to be playing mid-week or needing to find another pitch if theirs is not playable. The best placed team is Beesands Rovers who have 13 games left with 23 Saturdays to play them.

Division Two is the best division for games played. Half of the teams have either played half or are one short of playing half, so we don’t see any issues at the moment; only Watcombe Seconds have four more games but plenty of time to fit them into a Saturday.

Division Three is mostly looking fine at the moment with the top four teams having 11 or 12 games to fit in, and as they are the most likely to go further in the cups, they have no need at the moment to be thinking of mid-week games. Only Stoke Gabriel TP have five more games to fit in, but at the moment, this would take them up to 17 Saturdays and leave six free.

Division Four is also fine with seven of the 11 teams ahead of their fixtures, but Waldon Thirds have only played four games and have 16 still to play, and as they are one of two unbeaten teams, a cup run is not out of the question. They may need to switch some games to Windmill Hill to catch up. And whilst I realise that some folk will find this hard to believe, all of the above is subject to mother nature over which the SDFL has no control.

Games to catch (weather permitting) Saturday 13th December

There are some big games to look forward to this Saturday, and our Plymouth-based supporters will be spoilt for choice. Windmill (pictured) take on an Ilsington Villa side looking to get back amongst the front runners. This game is at Millennium Fields with a 2.30 KO, and just across the parkway, Lakeside Athletic meet Newton Abbot ’66 who have already taken three points in the home fixture, so Lakeside will be looking to win this game. True Blues are the other Plymouth based team facing decent opposition, in Kingsteignton Athletic, at Millbay Park also with a 2.30 KO. Whilst the Rams may be at the wrong end of the table, True Blues will know that they can beat any team on their day.

My pick of the day’s fixtures though is also in Plymouth, at Tothill Enclosure, where in Division One, Mount Gould welcome Bovey Tracey in what could well be a rehearsal for a Premier Division game next season. Both teams are going well and have plenty of games in hand to catch the front runners.

In Division Two, its third v fourth at Ivybridge Town Reserves, where Babbacombe Corries are the visitors just two weeks after winning the home game 8-1, so the Ivies will be looking for a better outcome at Erme Valley if the water stays in the river.

There is an attractive tie at Broadpark in Division Three, where Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds host a good footballing side in Galmpton United who could do with a few dry days to let them show their skills. but the current wet period could suit the home team.

The big game in Division Four is first v third at Kate Brook where Chudleigh Athletic Reserves face local rivals Teign Village in a no holds barred fixture, where a win for the home team could open up an 11 point gap at the top.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

newton abbot 66 south devon football league 2025

Scoring records smashed in another South Devon Football League jamboree

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 4th OCT, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Newton Abbot ’66 contributed by SDFL

Whilst there were 176 goals in total scored, and yes Ashburton did actually score 24 of them in one game, it’s True Blues that continue to be upwardly mobile at the top of the Premier Division.

Unbeaten Newton Abbot ’66 (pictured) surrendered that record in a 4-1 defeat at Millbay Park to a Plymouth True Blues side that are setting the pace. Louis Brace scored a brace, with Mike Storey and Joe Couttes hitting singles to keep the Gers one point ahead of Ilsington Villa, who brought Totnes and Dartington back down to earth with a 3-nil win at Foxhole; once again, Callum Noyce was on the scoresheet and seems to be enjoying his Saturdays again. Jamie Soper and Daniel Langford also found the back of the net to bring the points back to the Carps.

Windmill are also well placed just two points behind Villa but with a game in hand following a fine 5-1 win at Paignton Saints courtesy of strikes from Brodie Simpson, Miles Hunt, Cory Distin and Jack Biscoe. The recommended watch for the week was at Kingsteignton Athletic, and the game did not disappoint. The visitors Lakeside Athletic had lost two of their three opening games and another defeat this early in the season would not have helped the cause. The man in the middle certainly had a busy afternoon, and the crowd enjoyed a nine goal thriller, which the visitors just shaded by the odd goal late in the game. Last season’s champions Newton Abbot Spurs finally got their first win of the season beating Buckfastleigh Rangers by eight goals to nil. Jacob Wales scored a hat-trick, and there were singles for Aiden Blackie, Gav Collins, Kye Drinkwater and Freddie Heath.

In Division One, pre-season favourites Mount Gould have taken over at the top and are the only team in this section with a 100 % record. A fine 7-2 home win against a fancied Beesands Rovers side, looking to bounce straight back into the top division, was set up with four goals from Bentley Alcantara, who is looking well-placed to do well in the race for the golden boot. Brixham Town and WBB are both level on points with the Mounties having both lost on the same day. Town were beaten 3-2 by a decent Watcombe Wanderers team who should win more than they lose, and the Claymen lost 2-1 at home to Barton Athletic who despite being fifth from bottom, are just three points off the top. Elburton Villa Reserves moved into fourth place following a 3-2 win at Liverton United, with goals from Lucas Phillips and Finley Lyle. Both Bovey Tracey Reserves and Paignton Villa got back to winning ways with good wins. Bovey had a comfortable afternoon at Homers Heath, with a 6-nil win against Buckland Athletic Reserves, and Villa recorded a 4-1 win versus a Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds team playing only their second game of the season.

Division Two has had most stats people checking the records for 56 goals in one Saturday in one division; I think they are still looking. Ashburton may have stolen the headlines with their 24 goals, but credit must go to Watcombe Wanderers Seconds for never giving up and even at 17-nil changing the formation to try something different, so well done to them, and I am sure they enjoyed their Saturday night out. There is not enough space for all the scorers but a mention for a substitute James Martin who came on with 15 minutes to go and scored four times. Dan Steer also scored four and Lee Grimshaw hit six. Paignton Saints Seconds picked up their first win of the season, and what a way to win: an 11-2 result versus Upton Athletic will give Saints something to build on.

At the top, Ivybridge Town Reserves gave up their 100% start to the season by losing 2-nil to Harbertonford and are now one of four teams on 12 points; George Gordon and Isaac Phillips were the match-winners for the Fords who are just three points off the top. Signal Box Oak Villa lead the division on goal difference thanks to a 6-1 win at Paignton Villa Seconds. A hat-trick from Jordan Rickard and singles from Paul Thompson, Harley Mitchell and Karl White secured the points that were heading down the A38. Babbacombe Corries’ 100% record remains intact, and a 5-nil win against an East Allington United Second team that have not had the best start to a season keeps Corries well placed. Drake FC are the fourth team level at the top and seem to be worthy of a place in Division Two; a 5-nil win at Newton Rovers keeps the Plymouth-based team as early contenders for a third promotion having never finished in the top two.

Division Three is a more straightforward division. Kingskerswell have opened up a six point gap between first and third, and their 100% record looks to be in good hands. Kyle Doughty, Toby Ballard and Sean McArdle scored the goals in a 4-nil win over Totnes and Dartington Seconds. Galmpton United trail three points behind and look the most likely to dent ‘Kerswell’s record, and a 2-1 win over a good Kingsteignton Athletic Second team keeps them well placed for that challenge. Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds go about their business under the radar, and a 3-1 home win versus South Brent moves them into fourth place, four points behind Galmpton. Templer Way had a shock loss this week, an 8-1 reverse against Stoke Gabriel TP has given the Bishopsteignton-based team some catch up work to do in their second season in the competition. For SGTP, they have two games in hand that could see them in the top three if they can win them. Liverton United Seconds move into fourth place with a 2-1 win over Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds thanks to goals from Simon Ross and Kye Graham. Rangers remain pointless alongside Ipplepen Athletic Seconds and Totnes and Dartington Seconds, and all three teams have come close to picking up points so cant be far away from kick-starting the season.

Division Four has also opened up a tad, with Teign Village winning 4-1 at home against Paignton Villa Thirds to move three points clear of local rivals Chudleigh Athletic Seconds who were on County Cup duty on a non-County Cup weekend, and Brixham Town Seconds moved into third place with a great 6-nil win over Newton Rovers Seconds at Bakers Park. Kingsbridge and Kellaton United also had a great win in another nine goal thriller, 5-4 against a travelling Bere Alston United Reserves side is a good result in anybody’s book, but for a team that has endured more struggles than most, shows real character in the group of players that they have.

Games to catch on Saturday 11th October:

With no SDFL league games being played due to the County Cups taking place, It’s your opportunity to watch teams from other parts of Devon. This week’s pick of the bunch in the Premier Cup are Chudleigh Athletic at home to Step 7 club Ipplepen Athletic, Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves host North Molton and Ilsington Villa will welcome East Budleigh. Waldon Athletic are due back to playing duty and host Upottery at Windmill Hill.

In the Senior Cup, there are a number of South Devon v Exeter games: East Allington United Seconds v Newtown; Brixham Town v Exeter University Thirds; Beesands v Dawlish United; Barton Athletic v Central FC, and likewise in the Intermediate Cup: Kingsbridge and Kellaton United host Starcross Dons; Teign Village v Cheriton Fitzpayne. The draw has been kind to most South Devon-based teams which will cause the Referee Secretary a headache with so many playing at home, but spare a thought for Exmouth Albion who have to travel to Bere Alston United Seconds, a round trip of just 122 miles. All of these games start at 2pm.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

True Blues take over at the top

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 27th SEP, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Watts Blake Bearne contributed by SDFL

Sixes win the Newton Abbot derby, T & D win at Lakeside, Saints put five past Ilsington and True Blues who go top for the first time. But hey, its just another Saturday in the South Devon League.

Plymouth True Blues lead the way into October at the top of the Premier Division thanks to a very close game at Chudleigh Athletic. Just one goal separated the sides courtesy of a Bailey Williams strike, and for the second week in a row, Chudleigh will be kicking themselves to come away from a game pointless. In the Newton Abbot derby, it was ’66 that came out on top with a 2-1 win over near neighbours Spurs thanks to a Tom Lowe double strike. It is incredible that after just two games, Sixes are the only Premier team with a 100% record. Looks like its going to be a cracking season. And now for the eyebrow-raising results: Kingsteignton Athletic dropped their first points of the season with a 1-nil home defeat to East Allington United; a single goal from Ben Taylor was enough for the points to head back to the South Hams, and at Coach Road, Paignton Saints had a great result in upsetting Ilsington Villa in a nine goal thriller which included four goals from Jake Powell and a single from Brandon Kelly; Saints swept into a three goal lead within 13 minutes of KO, whilst Villa will be pleased that new signing Callum Noyce continues to bang in the goals, but his hat-trick, and the fact that they ended the game with less players than they started with, will no doubt leave a bittersweet taste. The penultimate report from the Premier Division is all about Totnes and Dartington who picked up their first points of the season with an acca killer result, bearing in mind that Lakeside Athletic, who had only lost two league games in three years, lost again to make it two defeats in three weeks in the Torbay Clearance Services top division. A fantastic 2-1 win for the visitors, with goals from Harri Hardy and Josh Squire, will no doubt help Jono Beardsmore sleep well this week. The final game in the Premier Division was at Millennium Fields, where Windmill put ten goals past a Buckfastleigh Rangers side that are not having the best of times but will hopefully overcome the challenges.

In Division One, only Mount Gould have a 100% record, and today, they cruised passed Liverton United with a 6-1 scoreline thanks to Aaron and Ray Spear, Bentley Alcantara and Jack Trigger.

At the top, Brixham Town and Watts Blake Bearne (pictured above) are neck and neck after four outings, and both had to go the extra mile to pick up maximum points this week; Town won 3-2 against a good Barton Athletic side at JC Park to remain heading in the right direction.

And WBB looked to be sharing the points at home to Watcombe Wanderers who did more than enough to win the game until Cam Gill hit the winner 10 minutes from time to give Darren and Dexter a good start to the season and something to build on. Beesands Rovers got back to winning ways thanks to a tight 3-2 win against Paignton Villa; goals from Jack Eades, Joe Tucker and Ollie Mitchell were enough for the points to head back to the South Hams.

Elburton Villa Reserves also picked up their first win of the 25/26 season with a comfortable 5-1 win versus Buckland Athletic Reserves at Haye Road .Just to put this division into some context, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds have only played one game due to postponements and free weeks, and they are the only team that have not won a game, so this is looking like a division where any team can beat any team; and apart from Mount Gould, they have.

Division Two is also shaping up for a good competition. After four games, only two have not won a game, and only Ivybridge Town Reserves and Babbacombe Corries have an unbeaten record. Ivies had a fairly comfortable afternoon in a game that was played without an official referee; a 4-1 win at Bakers Park, at the hands of Newton Rovers, was enough to take the points back down the A38. Goals from Joshua Hill and Daniel Jones made sure of another victory for Corries against Paignton Saints Seconds, but they had to work for the 3-2 win, and the two goals they conceded were the first of the season, so the Corries ‘keeper falls from grace in the golden glove race. Drake FC are one of four teams level on 9 points, and they had to work hard for their 4-3 win at East Allington United Seconds. As did Signal Box Oak Villa, who won at home to Ashburton by the odd goal in three. On target for the Plymouth side were Ryan Morgan and Paul Tompson. The final team on 9 points are Paignton Villa Seconds, who just edged a 1-nil win at Long Lane against a new look Watcombe Wanderers Second team to keep themselves well placed.

Division Three is going with the pre-season predictions that Kingskerswell and Galmpton United would be the two teams to beat, and both continue to be upwardly mobile. ‘Kerswell won 4-nil at Halford against an experienced Liverton United Reserves side, and Galmpton won the local derby versus Stoke Gabriel TP by 4 goals to 1. Harley Hooper scored a brace, with singles from Jack Rowell and Daniel White (full match report on Daves World). Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds and South Brent had a pleasant afternoon sharing a nil-nil draw, and Templer Way seem to have been reborn for this season; a 5-2 win at Totnes and Dartington Seconds puts them in the top four. Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds enjoyed another victory, this time a 3-1 success at Ipplepen Athletic Seconds puts them level on points with Templer and Liverton.

Division Four is also going with the pre-season predictions that Teign Village and Chudleigh Athletic Seconds would dominate and all eyes would be on the unknown in Bere Alston United under-18 side from last season. In a day of 75 year celebrations for the club, the Seconds delivered a 2-1 win over Kingsbridge and Kellaton United, and just up the road, Teign Village enjoyed a 5-1 win versus Newton Rovers Seconds. Both results keep the Clarets and Village clear at the top. Leading the chasing pack are Bere Alston United Seconds, who had an easy time of it at Broadhempston United where Adam and Steve Daymond scored five goals between them and Charlie Spry got a single strike to take the points down the A38 then up the A386! Brixham Town Seconds got their first win of the season, a 6-3 win at Paignton Saints Thirds was just what the Fishermen needed to get the season up and running.

Games to catch on Saturday 4th October:

The top division game to catch is at Millbay Park where True Blues welcome Newton Abbot ’66 for the first meeting between the teams. With True Blues in top spot and Sixes unbeaten, something has to give. Kingsteignton Athletic host what could be a nervous Lakeside team at Broadpark; the teams met in the Herald Cup last season, and only one goal separated them, so it should be a cracker. In Division One, there are a few games that will be worth a watch, but the reserve teams from Buckland Athletic versus Bovey Tracey meet at Homers Heath, and Watcombe Wanderers play Brixham Town at Long Lane in what will be a colourful event. The games of the day in Division Two are at White Rock, where Paignton Villa Seconds welcome Signal Box for the first time, and top of the table Ivybridge Town play Harbertonford in what is as close to a Plymouth derby for both sets of players. My pick of the bunch in Division Three is at Michaels Field, where Templer Way play a Stoke Gabriel TP side much in need of a promotion season, and Galmpton United have a tricky game versus a young Kingsteignton Athletic reserve side. Division Four also has a couple of games worthy of a watch. At White Rock, Paignton Villa Thirds play a Teign Village team in no mood to miss out on promotion this season, and down at Loddiswell, Kingsbridge and Kellaton United play Bere Alston United for the first time in both clubs’ history.

Enjoy your grassroots football.