East Allington’s Josef Sita in action against Meadowbrook in the Charity Shield. He scored a hat-trick for the Pirates in their opening league game against Barton Athletic. ©MiraclePR.com
East Allington United made a convincing start to their TCS SDFL Premier Division campaign with an emphatic 6-0 win over Barton Athletic, Finley Bullen and Josef Sita with hat tricks apiece.
Buckfastleigh Rangers sit atop the table though having won both of their games so far. Rangers followed up last week’s opening victory at Ivybridge Town Reserves with a 3-0 triumph away at Meadowbrook Athletic. Steve Sutton opened his account with a brace of goals and was joined on the score-sheet by Curtis Wood.
Elburton Villa Reserves are the only other Premier side to celebrate a win so far as they narrowly defeated visiting Newton Abbot ’66 3-2 at Haye Road. Two goals from Bayley Williams looked to have Villa comfortably on course for three points. But the Sixes fought back and managed to level the game before Williams completed his hat-trick.
Brixham AFC Reserves took the lead twice against Watts Blake Bearne at Wall Park, Thomas Burt and Peter Mwaro with the goals. But WBB found a last minute equaliser to deny the hosts an opening day win.
Salcombe Town won their opening Devon Premier Cup match after an exciting 3-3 draw with Lakeside Athletic of the Devon Football League. Goals from Ash Yeoman, Ben Tapper and Charlie Barnes had put the Crabs 3-1 up, Brandon Jefferis with the home side’s strike. But Jack Presland’s double took the game to penalties and Salcombe finally made it through 3-1.
Galmpton United were also in Premier Cup action against Devon League opponents but had a bad day at the office against North Molton. Goals from Callum Hutch, Carrick Galbraith, Jamie Giffard and Joe Southcott saw the Stags through 4-1, Callum Nightingale with Galmpton’s consolation.
Paignton Saints Reserves and Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves both won 8-1 in their Division One openers. Jake Powell put away a hat-trick for Saints at Abbotskerswell with Ben Hamilton-Hill scoring twice and Danny Rainbow, Ryan Goswell and Jo Potter also contributing goals; Aaron Knapman found the net for Abbots. Jay Barnard and Daniel Grute scored two apiece for Rangers as they beat Upton Athletic at the Duckspond. Gareth Harris, Glen Palmer, Jerry Revell and Benjamin Treeby also weighed in with goals for the home side, Jules Emati-Emati with Upton’s lone strike.
The league’s top goalscorer from last season, Callum Noyce, is up and running already with a brace for Ashburton in Division One on Saturday. Jack White also scored twice with Calum Fyfe adding a goal in a 5-1 victory over Chudleigh Athletic Reserves who netted through Ben Stephenson. Chris Barnett, Nathan Isaac, Kelsey Leech and Mark Voisey scored to make it a winning return for Kingsteignton Athletic following their spell in the DFL. The Rams beat Harbertonford 4-1 at Broadpark with David Hatch on target for Ford. Waldon Athletic and Paignton Villa are also back in the SDFL and had contrasting fortunes on their opening day. Waldon overcame Torquay rivals Kingskerswell and Chelston 2-1 at Windmill Hill while a Louis Brace strike was the only goal of the game as Beesands Rovers won 1-0 over Villa.
Ilsington Villa and Watcombe Wanderers Reserves enjoyed comfortable wins in their opening Division Two fixtures. Villa romped to a 4-0 half-time lead over ten-man East Allington United Reserves, running out 5-1 winners by the end of the afternoon. Dan Langford and George Harris both managed doubles with Matthew Warman the other home scorer and Matthew Duffy grabbing a consolation for the Pirates.
Watcombe also won 5-1 despite losing Connor Finch to a red card. William Allen put in a super-sub performance, scoring twice from the bench, and there were goals from Jamie Carter, Ryan Begley and Harry Lee. Opponents Paignton Villa Reserves scored through George Jones.
Babbacombe Corinthians narrowly beat Newton Rovers 3-2 at Bakers Park. Callum Leeds, Curtis Marshall and Ryan Mellish each opned their accounts for Corries while Nathan De’Ath and Kyle Willoughby did the same for Rovers. Torquay Town and Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds fought out a 3-3 draw at Barton Cricket Club with Aaron Underhill scoring a hat-trick for the hosts. Ipplepen Athletic Reserves collected a free three points as Dittisham United were unable to fulfil their fixture.
In Division Three, Sonwabile Mlenze gave Paignton Saints Thirds the lead at Abbrook Park but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Goals from Matt Elmore, Nathan Harvey and substitutes Christopher Blandford and Tom Taylor saw Watts Blake Bearne Reserves secure a 4-1 win.
Kingsbridge and Kellaton United came away from Headlands with the three points. Dominic Farleigh scored twice and Andrew Tildesley hit the target as the visitors beat Broadhempston United 3-1, Ryan Easterbrook with the Robins’ goal. Liverton United also celebrated an away victory with Nick Rushe and Luke Williams on target at Bishopsteignton United who scored through Daniel Rogers.
The other three Division Three games all finished level. In a repeat of June’s cup final, Brixham Town took on Totnes and Dartington Reserves. Just as in that game, Tots took the lead with Jake Osman finding the net this time out. Stuart Pointon equalised for Town to earn his side a share of the spoils. Teign Village and Chudleigh Athletic Thirds shared four goals between them and Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves and Galmpton United Reserves drew 1-1.
Bovey Tracey Reserves and South Brent were the big winners in Division Four. Benjamin Moyle was the day’s top individual goalscorer with four goals in Bovey’s 8-0 win at Barton Athletic Thirds. Jamie Soper scored twice for South Brent as they scored seven without reply at home to Newton Rovers Reserves.
Elsewhere, Paul Christie scored a hat-trick for Brixham Town Reserves as they just about managed the win in a nine goal thriller at Discoveries Devon. Waldon Athletic Reserves also scraped a win, 3-2 at Ipplepen Athletic Thirds, while it finished two apiece between Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves and Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves.