Report and photos contributed by SDFL
At last, spring finally kicked off and allowed most South Devon League footballers to get back to some normal Saturday afternoon activity even if the going was still good to soft on Grand National day. The first cup final of the season went ahead courtesy of the hard working ground staff at Buckfastleigh Rangers where Watcombe Wanderers Reserves took on Paignton Saints Reserves for the Fred Hewings Cup; this is the knockout competition which is restricted to all reserve teams in the league and this year’s competition was kindly sponsored by Combined Roofing Services.
The game could have gone either way as both teams had chances that were not taken; it was end to end play and at times a bit frantic; the referee had a busy evening, issuing 6 yellow cards for mis-timed challenges, and the game had extra-time written all over it; that was until the 60th minute when George Keates received the ball 25 yards from goal, saw the Watcombe ‘keeper off his line and took his chance with a fine strike.
Watcombe continued to push and chance after chance went begging – just a reminder that last season, Saints were in the Premier Division and Watcombe were in Division Four, and that bit of extra experience held out for Saints to celebrate the first South Devon League cup final of the season with a firework display.
Elsewhere in the catch up cup games Newton Abbot ’66 and Waldon Athletic had a mammoth tussle in the semi final of the Belli cup at Osbourne Park, 2 – 2 at the end of full time and extra-time where Waldon were reduced to 10 men and ’66 just edged the penalty shootout to claim a cup final berth to look forward to. Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves, who themselves are enjoying their football again after a couple of seasons of struggle, possibly sent out a message to next season’s Premier Division teams by thrashing Elburton Villa Reserves 5 – 1 in the Herald Cup to progress to the quarter-finals. Bovey Tracey Reserves also had a comfortable afternoon at home to Barton Athletic; a 7 – 1 demolition job secured their place in the Les Bishop final and a league and cup double is still on the cards for the Moorlanders. Liverton United first team booked a place in the semi-final of the Ronald Cup with a 6 – 2 victory at Totnes and Dartington and their reserve team came out on top with a 2 – nil win against Drake FC, and they will play in the Les Bishop final against Chudleigh Athletic Seconds who beat Barton Athletic 5-nil with goals from Ben Hill, Kai Stocker, Christian Williams, Daniel Martin and super-sub Lloyd Hitchins.
In the Premier Division of the Torbay Clearance Services League, it looks like it is now Ilsington Villa’s title to lose; a 2-nil home win against their nearest rivals Morley Rangers, thanks to goals from Jack Dixon and Matt Warman, leaves them with 7 games to play and they would have to lose 3 of them to be caught. The other massive scoreline from this division was between the bottom two teams and it was Brixham AFC Reserves who have given themselves some hope with a fine 5 – 1 home win versus WBB; with 5 games left to play, the two teams just above them, East Allington and Chudleigh, need another 2 wins to be safe.
In Division One, Paignton Saints and Ivybridge Town Reserves continue to thunder on and are both now 8 points clear of Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves who have a lot of midweek games to fit in during the next 6 weeks. Saints won 3-nil against Totnes and Dartington, who are now out of the promotion race, and Ivybridge Town had a close game at Watcombe but just got over the line thanks to goals from Joe Truelove and Kyne Sanie; Brixham Town also dropped out of the promotion race; they lost 3 – 1 at Harbertonford who are probably safe from relegation with this win; Sebastian Looker and Jason Wilkes were on target for the Fords.
Division Two has been a fascinating competition and as it stands only Barton Athletic in fifth cannot go up or down; every other team in the top four can get promotion and the bottom 5 could be relegated; Bovey Tracey remain favourites with games in hand, but pre-season favourites Paignton Saints Seconds, with just 4 games to play, need to win them all and hope that Newton Spurs Thirds slip up. East Allington United Seconds are in third place and face Bovey Tracey Reserves next in the league.
In Division Three, there were wins for Stoke Gabriel TP and South Brent that keeps them in mid table, but both could squeeze into a promotion spot. Stoke beat Kingsbridge and Kellaton for the second time in 7 days; a Daniel Trezeze hat trick and singles from Adam Blackburn and Paul Christie completed the rout, and South Brent, who lost in midweek, just got the better of Newton Abbot ’66 reserves with a 1-nil home victory. Brent are 6 points off the top two and have 2 games in hand. Elsewhere in this division, Teign Village got a much-needed win in their trip to the seaside; 3 – 2 was the final score at Paignton Saints Thirds.
As Division Four’s top three were on cup duty, Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds and Elburton Villa Thirds took full advantage and moved into a position ready to pounce. The Rams were comfortable 3 – 1 home victors versus Paignton Villa Thirds; Samual Arthurs scored twice and an own goal helped them into fourth place with 7 games to play; Elburton Villa moved into fifth place, just 3 points off a promotion spot with 2 games in hand; it’s definitely hotting up with 6 weeks for teams to get their outstanding games played.
Games to catch this week include the second South Devon League Cup final of the season which is the Les Bishop Cup final. This is the knockout competition for teams in Division Four. Liverton Utd Seconds will play Chudleigh Athletic Seconds at Buckfastleigh on Friday 19th April with a 7.30pm K.O.
On Saturday 20th April, my game of the day is at Broadpark where Premier Division champions Kingsteignton Athletic take on Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves from Division One for a place in the Herald Cup semi-final; get there early !!! Also playing in their league cup, Watcombe Wanderers Seconds welcome Liverton Utd first team to Long Lane for a game that could go to the wire, but a cup final is the prize. Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds are also in cup action at their chosen home ground Chuley Road, Ashburton, where Paignton Saints Seconds will be looking to add to the silverware already collected.