Tag: east allington united

kingsteignton athletic herald cup winners 2023

Penalty Drama in Both Semi-Finals as Clarets and Rams Make Herald Cup Final

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. HERALD CUP SPECIAL REPORT, by Alastair Muirden. Photo: Kingsteignton celebrating their 2023 Herald Cup win ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR

Tuesday 22nd April: Herald Cup Semi Final – Bovey Tracey 2nds v Kingsteignton Athletic

I think it is fair to say that this anticipated semi-final failed to deliver what was hoped for by both sets of supporters, and as the weather deteriorated just as fast as the missed chances in front of goal, you could probably not got a bet on a nil-nil draw. The first half was a fairly even contest and the divisional difference was hard to see; the second half belonged to the Division One side, and I am sure a few of the Bovey players will have had a sleepness night thinking about those missed chances; in total, I counted nine good scoring opportunities for the Moorlanders and a missed penalty kick. At the other end, Kingsteignton’s first real chance was not until the 92nd minute, and whilst keeping Bovey pegged back, they had a shot cleared off the line a minute later. Extra-time came and went, unlike the biblical rain which affected everybody, and in the penalty shootout, the Rams were the first team to miss and Bovey, having scored their first four, just needed to score the fifth to reach the final; good save by Ellis Rattue; Kings scored next meaning that Bovey were now chasing the game; another good save by the ‘keeper and Kingsteignton Athletic are into another Herald Cup Final

Wednesday 23rd April: Herald Cup Semi Final – Waldon Athletic v East Allington United

If the first semi-final failed to deliver, then this one surely kept the crowd glued to the pitch fencing: six goals, a ‘keeper carried off, a red card, a last minute penalty miss, extra-time followed by yet another penalty shoot out and after all of that, Waldon Athletic have made it through to only their third Herald Cup Final which will be played on Friday 2nd May at Newton Rec with a 7pm KO.

This was a game of two halves and a bit more. When East Allington United sailed into a 2-nil first half lead, with goals from Fin Bullen and Martin Finnerton, the supporters from the South Hams must have been checking their diaries for cup final night plans. But Waldon were doing what Waldon are good at, and they were slowly but surely getting back into the game and when Ashley Grimes pulled one back just before the break, it was definitely game on.

The first big talking point came early in the second half when Fin Bullen challenged the Waldon ‘keeper for a ball for which the referee judged as reckless and reduced East Allington to ten players; as a result of the challenge, the Waldon ‘keeper, Joe Whitehead, had to be replaced and Kyle Doughty volunteered to put on the number one shirt. Ater a lengthy stoppage, Waldon restarted the game and were in control, but they had to wait 20 minutes for Cole Feasby to be in the right place at the right time and he levelled the score. This seemed to give a second wind to the South Hams side who must have thought it’s now or never, and they came back into the game which made for great viewing. Next big talking point in the 88th minute: what appeared to some to be a 50 – 50 challenge were not the thoughts of the referee who did not hesitate in pointing to the spot in East Allington’s favour; up steps Josh Pascoe to put Allington into the final only for stand-in keeper Kyle Doughty to palm the ball onto the crossbar to send the game into extra-time. The extra period continued in the end-to-end play, and East Allington had settled back into playing with ten players and Waldon kept plugging away knowing it would take something special to break the deadlock, and in the tenth minute of extra time, the ball fell nicely for Cole Feasby some 20 yards from goal, and he hit a shot that flew past the Allington ‘keeper and it looked like game over, but with just two minutes left on the clock, Dan Joyce had the ball on the edge of the Waldon penalty box and they had all 11 players defending; he decided to take a speculative shot which seemed to bounce off two defenders and somehow found its way into the corner of the goal, and by the time they restarted, the referee blew for full-time and we had a second penalty shootout. East Allington’s Fred Massey was the only kick-taker to score and Waldon scored all four to put an end to a pulsating cup semi final.

Herald Cup Final 2025

Kingsteignton Athletic versus Waldon Athleic.

Newton Abbot Recreational Trust on Friday 2nd May, 7pm KO

This competition is kindly sponsored by Torbay Clearance Services

paignton villa v babbacombe corinthians torbay clearance services sdfl division one

Three in a Row for Elburton with Narrow Win at Poole Lane

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.