TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 5th SEPTEMBER, by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Newton Abbot ’66 contributed by SDFL
On the opening weekend of the SDFL season, and just 98 days since the last ball was kicked in the 25/26 season, most of the 60 teams kicked off with dreams of putting together a promotion season or perhaps reaching one of the cup finals, especially the ones that will be played at Plainmoor.
For some, it’s not all about success on the pitch. It’s about success off the pitch and the development of a group of young men within their football clubs and communities, or this season in particular, creating a pathway into adult football for youth players. Whichever category your club fits into, the SDFL wishes you all success.
My pick for game of the day did not disappoint. A Division Two clash between Kingskerswell and new boys Tavistock Seconds, who join the league with an impressive cv. In front of a decent attendance, the game was end-to-end and fairly even for the first 30 mins until the visitors took the lead when a speculative cross to the far post by Daniel Udo evaded Jack Gatting in the ‘Kerswell goal to loop under the bar. The goal shook ‘Kerswell to up their game, and Shane Shobrook was causing problems whenever he had the ball, but Ewan Lock in the Tavy goal was having a good afternoon. The crossbar saved him on one occasion, but most were down to good goalkeeping. Half-time came in good time for the visitors, but it was the ‘Kerswell bench that were the loudest, and within a minute of the restart, during the first ‘Kerswell attack of the second half, the referee pointed to the spot for a trip on a ‘Kerswell player, and it was left for Kyle Doughty to step up to pull the home team level. Tavistock were now on the back foot and ‘Kerswell looked the most likely to score again, but Tavy were playing well and were winning all of the second balls in defence. 15 minutes from time, ‘Kerswell won a corner that was floated into the six yard box for Ashley Grimes to rise above the young defenders to fire a bullet header into the goal. Tavistock continued to push forward in the final 15 minutes in search of an equaliser, but the experienced ‘Kerswell players were able to hold them off to record their first win of the new season.
There were some impressive results in the Premier Division, and no more than at Osborne Park, where Newton Abbot ’66 (pictured) once again got their season off to a winning start, against Plymouth based opposition in the form of newly promoted Elburton Villa Seconds, by 3 goals to 1 thanks to strikes by Luke Snell, Jake Cockram and summer signing Jakeb Haywood-Cann. East Allington United also got out of the blocks with three points versus Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds, with an impressive 3-1 scoreline, and Lakeside Athletic made a good start to their defence of the title but made hard work of a one-nil win at Totnes and Dartington. Ilsington Villa joined these three teams on three points with a two-nil victory over Chudleigh Athletic at Lewthorne Cross, Daniel Langford and Gavin Lake, against his old club, were the scorers. In the final game played in the top division, Paignton Saints and Kingsteignton Athletic shared the points in an eight goal thriller at Coach Road. Mark Voisey, Dan Garswood and Lewis Round were on target for the Rams.
In Division One, Watcombe Wanderers made it two wins from two in a hard fought victory at Beesands Rovers, and if you had told Buckland Athletic on Thursday that both of their teams would score 25 goals between them, they would not have believed you, but the Seconds racked up 12 against a Brixham Town side that are considered promotion contenders, so they can expect a tough training session next week. Bovey Tracey Reserves are most definitely contenders, and a 5-1 win versus Signal Box, who last season won Division Two at a canter, is a great result. Cam Gill, Sam Stowell, Ben Moyle and Ali Chuchuk were the target men for the Moorlanders. Mount Gould also got off to a winning start with a two-nil win against Paignton Villa at South Devon College.
Whilst Kingskerswell got their new season off with three points in Division Two, Galmpton United sit just above them on goal difference thanks to goals from Harley Hooper and Martin Luker (2). A three-nil win over visiting Ashburton, who themselves just missed out on promotion last term, is a good result for the Greens. One of the relegated teams, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds, tasted victory in a league game for the first time since 3rd January with a comfortable five-nil win against Paignton Saints Seconds to top the table. Toby Pullman showed the difference in divisions by scoring all five goals, and Ivybridge Town Seconds continue to win opening day fixtures with a tight 3-2 win at Paignton Villa Seconds.
In Division Three, just three games kicked off the season, and one of the results of the day must go to Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds who made the trip to new team Horrabridge Rangers and came away with all the points in an impressive 3-1 victory. Macauley Kerr, who scored two, and a single from Sam Bridge were good enough for Sixes to bring the points home. Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds also got their season off with a win following promotion from Division Four. The game versus Newton Rovers ended with a two-nil scoreline in favour of the young Rams thanks to strikes from Billy Bristow and Finley Lumgair. Ipplepen Athletic Reserves had a good opening day result with a one-nil against newly promoted Chudleigh Athletic Seconds, who lost their last two league games in Division Four last season and will not want to keep this run going.
In Division Four, Buckland Athletic Thirds made a ‘here we are’ statement with an impressive 13-nil win over Paignton Villa Thirds on Friday night under the lights of Homers Heath. All were praising the attitude of the Villa players who played the whole game as if it was one-nil.
On Saturday, there was a full house of fixtures, and Bere Alston United Reserves had a great result in beating Lakeside Athletic Seconds by six goals to one, and just to put that result in context, Lakeside were last seasons PWD champions, so having just lost out on promotion last season, Alston would appear to not want to let that slip away again. Robert Court and Soul Pengelly were on target and Callum Mitchell hit a hat-trick. Barton Athletic got their season off to a three point start with a close 2-1 victory over Ilsington Villa Seconds, who were playing their first game in adult football. Nat Crook and Matt Ward scored for the Blues. And another team in the same boat were Windmill, who won 2-1 against Waldon Athletic at Millenium Fields. Windmill currently have the smallest squad in the whole competition with just 20 registered players, so well done to them. In the final Division Four game, Brixham Town Seconds shared the points with Signal Box Seconds with an entertaining 4-4 draw.
In the new Division Five, Tamerton Foliot won the battle of the new teams with a four-nil win over Tavistock Thirds, and a new look WBB Reserves enjoyed a 3-1 win at Bakers Park against Newton Rovers Seconds. Another new team to the league Newton Albion did not have it their own way, but a one-nil win over an experienced Broadhempston United will have calmed the nerves of those brave enough to start a team from scratch and enter the SDFL. Cameron Davis was the sole scorer for Albion. The final game in this division was the third game of the day to finish with a 4-4 scoreline, and Waldon Athletic Seconds and Paignton Saints Thirds will no doubt be pleased to get an early point on the board. Waldon’s goals came from Connor Charlesworth, Marley Isaac, Elliot Glasser and Daniel Omonuwa.
So what do East Allington United, Watcombe Wanderers, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds, Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds, Buckland Athletic Thirds and Tamerton Foliot all have in common? Answer: after the first full week of the SDFL they all top their divisions. Well done to them.
Games to catch on Saturday 12th September:
As this is the first week of county cups, league games are in short supply, but there is one in the top division that stands out, and it is the visit to Kingsteignton Athletic by current champions Lakeside Athletic for a 2.30pm kick off. Not much separated the teams last season, and this encounter is likely to be a close affair. The only other Premier Division game is at Dartington, where the hosts welcome Elburton Villa Seconds.
In Division One, Mount Gould will be tested by a Bovey Tracey Reserves side hoping to make it into the Prem at the third time of asking, and this will surely lay a marker as to how close they can get. Also in this division, Signal Box face their longest trip of the season to JC Park, where Brixham Town will give the Plymouth side a fisherman’s welcome.
In Division Two, Paignton Saints Seconds also face their longest trip of the season, but the reward is playing at Langford Park in Tavistock, where the hosts will be looking for their first points of the season following last weeks loss at ‘Kerswell by the odd goal in three.
In Division Three, two of the relegated sides meet at Bakers Park where Newton Rovers and Liverton United Reserves will both be hoping for some early points on the board, and Chudleigh Athletic Seconds will be tested at Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds following their promotion.
Division Four has the same number of games, and all look very competitive. Barton Athletic host a young Windmill side at Barton Downs; Lakeside Athletic Seconds face Brixham Town Seconds; Paignton Villa Thirds welcome Ilsington Villa Seconds to White Rock and Signal Box Seconds play Buckland Athletic Thirds at Manadon 3G.
Division Five offers new boys Tamerton Foliot the challenge of finding the Headlands, the home of Broadhempston United, and for the Torquay-based supporters something tells me that the game at Windmill between Waldon Athletic Seconds and Newton Albion will be worth a watch.
Enjoy your grassroots football.