Villa thrash Corries as Paignton sides clean up in Division One. Photo © Al Macphee/MiraclePR. Report by SDFL.
The weather was the big winner this week in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League washing out all but 7 games. A big thank you is due to the groundstaff volunteers that managed to get the pitches prepared at those clubs that played on grass this weekend.
In the Premier League, only 1 game survived the weather: Elburton Villa continued their run of good form by beating East Allington United by 5 goals to 4 at a windswept and wet Poole Lane. This win moves them up to fourth place in the division whilst leaving the hosts looking over their shoulders at the 2 teams below them.
The biggest attendance of the day, and perhaps the season for a league game, was at Coach Road where over 100 spectators were made to wait by Paignton Saints until the 45th minute of the game against Harbertonford to see any real goal mouth action, and it came courtesy of a penalty kick that Jamie Micklewright despatched; it was, in fact, the last kick of the half and saw the players running to the changing rooms to get a deserved break from the constant rain. Prior to this, Harbertonford did have some half chances but just could not penetrate a well organised Saints defence, whilst up front, it’s fair to say that Saints were poor and more balls went out of the ground than on target. The Saints manager must have said some choice words at the break as Saints went on the attack from the kick off, and when Ben Clark scored a 30 yard screamer 3 minutes after the restart, that effectively put the game to bed. The Fords’ heads started to drop and they never really got going in the second period, and whilst most of the players were now cold and soaking wet, it proves that it is easier to play when you are winning and Saints were now playing some of their best football, Jamie Micklewright finished off a lovely move from close range, and a further goal by Ben Clark sealed the points and moves Paignton Saints level on points with Brixham Town and Newton Abbot Spurs at the top of Division One. The other game played in Division One was on the artificial pitch at South Devon College where Paignton Villa hosted Babbacombe Corries (pictured) in a one sided affair that Villa won by 7 goals to nil.
There were no surviving fixtures in Divisions Two and Three, but in Division Four, incredibly, 4 games were played; the biggest shock came in the A38 derby where Liverton United Reserves surrendered their unbeaten start to the season with a 5 – 1 home defeat by Chudleigh Athletic. Gavin Lake scored twice for the visitors with Ben Hill, Joe Potter and Daniel Martin adding singles to complete a great afternoon for the Clarets. Babbacombe Corries Seconds are the latest team to fire blanks when Drake FC visit the bay; the Plymouth outfit, who look nailed on for honours in their first season in the Torbay Clearance Services league, ran out 8 – 1 winners, a result that keeps them top of the division, but right on their heals are Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds who came out on top in an 11 goal thriller at Broadpark against South Brent Reserves; Ashton Hogarth did the damage with a hat-trick and Ashley Hayworth and Tom De Young made sure the points were staying with the Rams. The result moves Kingsteignton Athletic up to second place in the table. The final game played in this division saw Barton Athletic Seconds win their second game of the season and move away from immediate danger by beating mid-table Broadhempston United on the 3g at Paignton Community College ( Tweenaway to people of a certain age !! ) the game was almost over at 2-nil, but Mathew Carroll scored a late consolation for the visitors before they ran to the changing rooms.
Recommended League games to catch next week, before two weeks of cup football with the Second Round of the Torbay Clearance Services Herald Cup on 11th October and the Fred Hewings cup on the 18th. Those cup draws are on the Full Time website.
Premier Division: its first versus third when Beesands Rovers have a trip up on to the moors to face Ilsington Villa in what should be a great game not only to watch but also for the referee as both teams have an exemplary discipline record.
In Division One: at the wrong end of the table, Harbertonford entertain Totnes and Dartington with both teams looking to move away from the danger zone; this could be a close game.
Division Two sees fourth placed East Allington United Seconds take on the leaders Paignton Saints Seconds where a home win will see the Pirates leapfrog Saints to the top. The groundstaff will no doubt be working hard on the pitch to get this game on.
Division Three fixtures have bottom of the table Kingsbridge and Kellaton, who have yet to pick up a point, host Waldon Athletic Thirds, who are just two places above them. The Kingsbridge camp will no doubt be hoping that the Waldon lads suffer a bit of jet lag on their journey into the South Hams.
The stand out game in Division Four is at Kinsgteignton Athletic Reserves who host a wounded Liverton United Second team who will be looking to bounce back following their surprise defeat last weekend.
If the weather is poor, there is one fixture that will definately be played and will be worth a watch. One of the many County Cup games taking place on Saturday is the clash between Paignton Saints and Bovey Tracey Reserves at Coach Road in the Senior Cup. Bovey, the Intermediate Cup holders, and Saints, one of the favourites to win it this season, should provide a cracking fixture that kicks off at 2pm.
Whichever game you decide to watch thank you for supporting grassroots football in South Devon.