TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 13th DEC, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves contributed by SDFL
Jayden Brent and Jake Powell may have shared the man of the match award as Paignton Saints sent the supporters home for a happy Christmas following their 6-1 home win versus the reigning champions, but make no mistake, this was a great team performance against a good Newton Abbot Spurs side.
On target for Saints were Joe Perry (2), Jake Powell (2), Brandon Kelly and Mynyta Cherneiski. The result sees Saints leapfrog Spurs and East Allington United into third place; Spurs drop to fifth, two points behind, but have two games in hand. Windmill returned to winning ways with a hard fought 3-1 win over Ilsington Villa who travelled to Plymouth without their top goalscorer who opted to play in an FA Vase game at Step 6. Brodie Simpson was the star man for the home team, netting twice, and Alex Photiou added to Villas woes with a well-taken goal to keep Windmill in a good place going into the new year. No other Premier Division games went ahead due to waterlogged grounds, but Totnes and Dartington had a shock defeat to Division One side Elburton Villa Reserves by 3 goals to 1 in the Herald Cup. Villa have not had much good news to share recently, as they lost their third team during the summer and the second team were relegated from the top division, so well done to them for being in the hat for the next round of the cup.
In Division One, Paignton Villa returned to pole position for the second time this season with a comprehensive 6-nil win over Liverton United, Tom Evans with a hat-trick. Seb Knight, Babbucarr Colley and Yahya Sulliman were all on target for Villa, and I am sure they will enjoy being at the top of the tree the week before Christmas in a Division where the top eight teams are still in contention for promotion. Beesands Rovers had a close call at bottom club Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds, but a 4-3 victory keeps the Bees just two points off of top place in fourth but, incredibly, with a negative goal difference that could be crucial come May. The goals were courtesy of a Jack Hopkins hat-trick and a single from Adam Keates. Watts Blake Bearne also had a good win on the road. A 4-1 win against Watcombe Wanderers keeps Wattsies in third place, and a victory at Bovey Tracey Reserves on Saturday 20th December, in the only game on the day, would see them leapfrog Paignton Villa on to the top of the tree for Christmas. Bovey, on the other hand, would not move any places with a win but would be within three points of the top. There was an all-Division One Herald Cup tie played at JC Park, where Brixham Town faced Barton Athletic (match report and photos on Daves World). Liam Northcott and Oakley Hunt were on target for ten man Barton Athletic who were made to hang on to their 2-1 win for a place in the next round.
The game of the day in Division Two was at Ivybridge Town Reserves, where visitors Babbacombe Corries inflicted a second defeat in three weeks over the Ivies. This time, a 3-nil win was enough for the Torquay-based team to remain two points behind leaders Signal Box Oak Villa but with a game in hand. Paignton Saints Seconds had a good day at the office with a 5-nil win at Newton Rovers. The win opens up an eight point gap that leaves the bottom three adrift. Incredibly, Saints Seconds are fourth from bottom with a positive goal difference.
In Division Three, Galmpton United gave up their unbeaten tag by losing 4-3 to Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves in a pulsating game that was a credit to this level of football. Even with this loss, Galmpton stay in second place some eight points ahead of the Rams but now six points behind the unbeaten leaders Kingskerwell who won 5-nil at home to Ipplepen Athletic Reserves with goals from new signing Ben Carter, Alex Harding, Loius Horton, Gareth McEwan and Stephen Rohan. Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds and Stoke Gabriel TP Reserves slogged out a 2-2 draw at a treacle-covered Osborne Park where really a point was not what either of these teams needed, but Sixes are only three points behind second place going into the new year.
The big game in Division Four went the way of the visitors Teign Village with a fine 3-1 win at Chudleigh Athletic Seconds and another first loss of the season for the home team. A William Allen hat-trick won the game for Village and keeps them well placed in third, five points off the lead with two games in hand. Brixham Town Seconds also remain well placed in fourth following a 4-1 win at Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. The Fishermen are three points off second with two games in hand. That team are Bere Alston United who had a 9-1 win at Paignton Saints Thirds, and they look determined to hold on to their promotion spot in their first season in the SDFL. Barton Athletic Seconds also moved into a challenging position with a 6-nil win at bottom club Newton Rovers Reserves. The Torquay-based side are now just three points behind second place with a game in hand. This division now has five teams in the mix for two guaranteed promotion slots.
With Chudleigh Athletic Seconds and Galmpton United losing this week, it leaves just Waldon Athletic Thirds in Division Four and Babbacombe Corries in Division Two unbeaten, and Kingskerswell in Division Three with a 100% record.
Games to catch this week
Friday night football returns to Coach Road on the 19th December in what is labelled Fair Play Friday. The event is hosted by Devon County Football Association and supported by the South Devon Football League to reward well behaved teams an opportunity to play under lights at no expense to themselves.
This week’s fixture is a Division Four encounter between Paignton Saints Thirds and Broadhempston United and has a 7.30 pm kick off. Whilst both teams are at the wrong end of the table and both could do with a win, incredibly, Saints are the second highest scorers in the division but have conceded the most goals. Broads, on the other hand, are the third lowest scorers in the division and have an equally leaky defence, so this could finish 6-6 or nil-nil. What is certain is a great night of pre-Christmas South Devon League football just before the festive break kicks in.
In Division One on Saturday 20th, Bovey Tracey Reserves have been proactive in arranging a fixture versus WBB to get one of their three games in hand played. That has a 2.30pm kick off.
The SDFL would like to wish all players, coaches, supporters, volunteers and their families the very best for Christmas and a healthy and happy 2026.
Thank you all for what you do for grassroots football.