TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 17th OCTOBER, by Alastair Muirden. Photo of The Windmill contributed by SDFL
Division One Buckland Athletic Seconds gave Premier Division East Allington United the fright of their lives in a thrilling game that ended 2-2 after extra-time. The Pirates held their nerve and progressed into Round Two courtesy of a penalty shoot-out win in a fixture that could well be a league game in the 27/28 season.
Newton Abbot ’66 made the trip to Division Two outfit Tavistock Reserves who were playing in this cup for the first time and the visitors, who over the years have won the cup on many occasions, were in no mood not to progress, but it took a mighty effort and goals from Adam Brenton (2), Carl Foskett and Sol Janecji to dig out a 4-2 victory in what was an entertaining cup game. In the all-Premier Division clash at Lewthorne Cross, Ilsington Villa were good value for their 4-1 win against Chudleigh Athletic. Goals from Dan Langford, Jack Dixon, Jamie Soper and Matt Warman set up a second round tie away to Galmpton United. In the all-Division One clash at Beesands Rovers, it was the visitors Brixham Town who finally found their scoring boots by not only avenging the recent league defeat by Rovers, but putting five goals past them and winning for the first time this season and progressing to face another all-Division One clash at Bovey Tracey Reserves in Round Two. Elsewhere in the Herald Cup, there was an entertaining game at Ashburton where Barton Athletic continue to punch below their weight, and this week’s 3-2 victory at the hands of higher league opposition also sees them set up an away tie in Round Two at Newton Abbot ’66. Another team winning for the first time this season were Buckfastleigh Rangers, who had to utilise their squad to play the game against Newton Rovers. A 5-2 victory was deserved for the Greens and the reward is a home tie versus True Blues in November.
In the Premier Division, it was business as usual for leaders Lakeside Athletic in a 2-1 win over local rivals Elburton Villa Reserves. They have now opened up an eight point gap at the top and are starting to look unstoppable. Paignton Saints are doing their best to keep tabs on them, and their 2-1 win over Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds, with goals from Connor Stewart and Brandon Kelly, keeps them in second place with a game in hand, and they have only lost once this season and that was at the hands of Lakeside. True Blues were the other upwardly mobile side this week thanks to a three-nil win over Totnes and Dartington. Caleb Taliss, Harrison Jones and Macauley Conway were on target for True Blues. Tots seem to be not far away from a win which would not only give them something to work with it would put them in touch of half of the division, and next up for them are Lakeside who they beat last season!!
In Division One, Paignton Villa and Bovey Tracey Reserves took full advantage of those teams on cup duty. Villa returned to the top with a fantastic 3-2 win at Mount Gould, and Bovey Tracey scored 14 without reply against a Babbacombe Corries side that never gave up but must be wishing they were back in Division Two. Sam Stowell was the highest talisman with five goals on the day. Just also a mention for the Corries linesman Colin Wren who was finally presented with the linesman of the year award prior to the game, so it was not all a bad news day for Corries. Thank you Colin for what you do for football in South Devon.
In Division Two, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds had one of the results of the day by winning 3-2 at Galmpton United to inflict a first defeat of the season for the Greens and in doing so, moved into second place, leapfrogging Kingskerswell who did not play. Jake Elms, Frank Ornyik, Ryan Cossey and Jake Attard were the Spurs scorers. Plymouth True Blues Seconds slipped into fourth place with a good 4-2 win at East Allington United Seconds, whilst Ivybridge Town Seconds and Paignton Villa Seconds played out an entertaining 3-3 draw at Erme Valley. Liverton United picked up their second win of the season by beating Paignton Saints Seconds by two goals to one to move into fifth place after just four games. Oliver West and Ashley Dawes found the net for Livvy.
Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds remain in top spot in Division Three and maintained their 100 per cent record with a comfortable six-nil win versus Ipplepen Athletic Seconds who led the division in the early weeks but have lost three games in a row and could do with a morale boosting win pretty soon. Sixes’ goalscorers were Pat Marsh and Greg Rogers (2 each), Cody Monk and rolling back the years, Geordie Douglas with a single strike. Liverton Utd Seconds moved into third place with a tough 2-1 win at Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds. The result leaves the Rams three points from second place in a tight division.
In Division Four, Buckland Athletic Thirds spent Friday night in top position thanks to a 5–2 victory over The Windmill (pictured) under the lights at Homers Heath. Theirno Lo was the star of the game with four goals, and Mikolaj Piasecki weighed in with a single strike. It is always good to see where the next generation of SDFL players are coming from and there were some noticeable surnames on the Buckland team sheet that made me think of days gone bye: Feasby, Law, Bryant, Glanfield and Aggett all had a place in the starting lineup, and it will be interesting to see these sons and grandsons progress.
On Saturday, Signal Box dislodged Buckland with a four-nil win against Ilsington Villa Seconds, who have now tasted two wins, two draws and two defeats in their opening six games in adult football. On the coat-tails of SB are Lakeside Athletic Seconds who had enjoyed a 7-3 win at JC Park against Brixham Town Seconds to keep the top of the division very competitive. Waldon Athletic had a good afternoon at White Rock, winning for the first time this season. They beat Paignton Villa Thirds two-nil, with goals from Fred Ellicott and Luke Snell, to get some points on the board.
In Division Five, Tamerton Foliot were tested to the max when they faced second-placed Paignton Saints Thirds, and a 3-2 victory for the visitors keeps them at the top of the division after six games. Saints slip into third place as Tavistock Thirds leapfrogged them with a six-nil win at Broadhempston United. Waldon Athletic Seconds made it a double first winning weekend for the club. A 6-1 win over Newton Rovers Reserves gives them their first taste of victory following three draws and two defeats. Kingsbridge and Kellaton United move into fifth place following a 2-1 win at WBB and are only six points from second with three games in hand. Normally, it’s the goalscorers that get mentioned, but for this game, it’s Elliot Bellamy, who had to replace an injured goalkeeper between the sticks and pulled off two match-winning saves for the South Hams side.
All fixtures for Saturday 24th October are available to view on the league’s Full-Time web page, and don’t forget to put your clocks back. Thank you for following the South Devon Football League.