NO QUARTER: The Reserves of Barton Athletic and East Allington battle it out for a Lidstone Cup semi-final spot. © Al Macphee/MiraclePR
Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police Reserves and The Windmill FC will contest the first of this season’s Torbay Clearance Services Herald Cup semi-finals at The Rec, Newton Abbot on Wednesday evening (7pm kick-off). Division Two outfit SGT Reserves will have their work cut out against the in-form Premier Division side.
The Windmill are competing in their first Herald Cup. Stoke last lifted the trophy back in 1989, five years after first winning the competition.
Last weekend saw six teams make the finals of their divisional cups. Chudleigh Athletic and Kingsteignton Athletic, already due to face off in the Devon Senior Cup final, will also be locking horns in the final of the Dartmouth (Division One) Cup. Alfie Luscombe scored twice for Chudleigh as they knocked out Paignton Saints Reserves
4-1 at Kate Brook. Kingsteignton had to work hard for their final place. After going down 2-0 at home to Paignton Villa, Alfie Lloyds and Stuart McAuley scoring, the Rams mounted a comeback. A brace from Ollie Kewell and goals from Louis Dickinson, Mark Voisey and Sam Barnes eventually saw them through 5-2.
Ilsington Villa also had to come from behind to book their place in the Lidstone (Division Two) Cup final. Trailing at home to a Torquay Town goal at half-time, Villa found a second half equaliser to bring the game to extra-time. Two further goals saw them through with their goals coming from Jack Dixon, Dan Langford and Matthew Warman.
Villa will be joined in the final by East Allington United Reserves who overcame Barton Athletic Reserves 3-1 at Paignton Community College. The Pirates took the lead early in the first half when a saved shot fell kindly for Finn Bullingham who finished into the top of the net from just under the crossbar. East Allington extended their lead two minutes into the second half, Dan Bastin gobbling up a spilled cross, and two soon became three when Sam Quick curled a great shot into the top right from 25 yards. Charlie Uniacke raced clear moments later with Barton’s best chance of the game, but his shot was saved. As tempers frayed towards the end, Uniacke was sent off. The ten men did get a goal back though, capitalising from a defensive mix-up to grab a last minute consolation.
Totnes and Dartington are into the final of the Ronald (Division Three) Cup after a nail-biting win over Liverton United Reserves. Liverton took the lead twice, Callum Hale with the first half opener, and Joshua Passmore-Tarpey with their second after Benjamin Towl had equalised. Scott Troth forced the game into extra-time with a strike in the last ten minutes, and with no further goals in extra-time, the game went to penalties. Tots took control of the shoot-out, winning 4-1.
They will be relishing a potential repeat of last season’s end of season tournament final with Brixham Town making it through to the semi-finals on Saturday. Their game, against Teign Village, also finished 2-2 and went to extra-time. But three extra-time Town goals set up a last four meeting with Bishopsteignton United. On the score-sheet for Brixham were Brendan Boddy, George Meredith, Josh Piper, Stuart Pointon and Dalton Sanders.
Brixham Town Reserves made it into the final of the Les Bishop (Division Four) Cup by winning 2-1 at South Brent, Paul Christie and Daniel Trezise on target. Their opponents will be either Bovey Tracey Reserves or Ivybridge Town Development, who put seven past Discoveries Devon without reply in Saturday’s quarter-final. Matthew Goodwin and Harley Battle scored two apiece, with Zach Edwards, Kai Foster and Craig Brenton also celebrating goals.
Elburton Villa Reserves will play either Ivybridge Town Reserves or Newton Abbot ’66 in the George Belli (Premier) Cup final after they dispatched Meadowbrook Athletic 2-0 at Haye Road.
The Torbay Clearance Services is not quite a two horse race yet, but Brixham AFC Reserves and Buckfastleigh Rangers are looking most likely to claim the prize after both picked up another three points last Saturday.
Salcombe Town were unable to raise a side against Brixham, while a Steve Sutton hat-trick saw Rangers beat Newton Abbot ’66 3-1 at the Duckspond, Jordan Pidwell with the Sixes’ effort.
The only game in Division One saw more joy for new Upton Athletic manager Andy Slough as his side beat fellow strugglers Kingskerswell and Chelston 1-0 at Armada Park, Kirean Nixon with the winner.
In Division Two, Babbacombe Corinthians dropped their first points in five games, as they were held 1-1 at Long Lane by Watcombe Wanderers Reserves, Harry Gouldthorpe and Curtis Marshall trading goals. Corries are one win away from securing third spot though, as Newton Rovers lost out 3-2 at home to Ipplepen Athletic Reserves.
Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds moved above Dartmouth AFC Reserves with a 4-1 victory over Darts at the Rec.
A hat-trick by Cam Gill, two goals from Antony Williams and a Gareth Hart strike helped Watts Blake Bearne Reserves to a comfortable 6-1 win over Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. WBB, who have three games in hand, are looking to chip away at unbeaten Division Three leaders Brixham Town who are ten points ahead.
Joe Potter and Anthony Buscombe celebrated goals as Chudleigh Athletic Third enjoyed a good 2-0 triumph at third-placed Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves. Broadhempston United have one more chance to secure a first league win after losing out 5-1 at home to Paignton Saints Thirds in their penultimate match.
Division Four side Barton Athletic Thirds became the first team to hang up their boots. Their final game was at Windmill Hill where Waldon Athletic Reserves reclaimed top spot with a 2-0 win, Sean Finch and Terry Hunter netting. The Clarets are two points ahead of Bovey Tracey Reserves with four games each remaining.