Tag: lakeside athletic

lakeside athletic crest

Herald Cup joy for Lakeside Athletic

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 18th APR, report by Alastair Muirden

Plymouth-based Lakeside Athletic became the first team to book a berth in this seasons Herald Cup Final by beating Watts Blake Bearne by two goals to nil in front of a big attendance at Homers Heath (full match report and photos are on Daves World). The Premier Division outfit were bigger and stronger than their opponents from Division One, and the fact that these two sides may meet in a league fixture next season tells you that there was not much between them. WBB had chances early in the game but failed to take them, and the first goal came about from a goalkeeper error that got him booked, and JJ Honeywell was in the right place to touch the loose ball home, but the second goal that followed soon after was a sublime free-kick that had Jaden Wood doing cartwheels back into his own half. Lakeside must now wait for the other semi-final between Ilsington Villa and Paignton Saints to find out who their opponents will be in the Plainmoor showdown.

The abandoned quarter-final game between Paignton Saints and East Allington United – due to an injury to Robbie Chalk – was finally played, and it went the way of the Saints who pulled off possibly their best result of the season so far by beating the Pirates by four goals to one and will now meet Ilsington Villa in the semi-final. On target for Saints were Jake Powell, Joe Wilden and a young man to look out for in Thomas Ross. In fact, whilst he was on target for the first team, his Dad Simon also found the net for the third team. Unfortunately the result was a bit different.

Midweek results:

In the Premier Division, Ilsington Villa had a tough evening at Chudleigh Athletic, but a Jack Langford goal keeps the Moorlanders there or thereabouts; two of the bottom three met at Buckfastleigh where Rangers and ’66 shared the points in a 3-3 draw, and Sixes will need to turn those games in hand into three point games to avoid the drop. In Division One, Bovey Tracey Reserves lost some ground on the top two with a 2-1 loss to Beesands Rovers, who are well-placed but only have three games left. The result leaves the door open for Mount Gould and WBB to contest the title at the moment. Move forward three days and it’s all change.

Saturday report:

At the top of the Premier Division, Windmill continue to go about their business, and an eight-nil win versus Totnes and Dartington puts them 13 points clear with five games to play and needing ten points to be crowned champions. Brodie Simpson managed to find the back of the net, but the hero, with four goals, was Miles Hunt. Former golden boot winner Corbin Mackin was also on target with Jake Harris and Rimae Darlington-Eyre. Ilsington Villa moved into fifth place and are now one of five teams within two points of second place following a comprehensive 5-1 win over Newton Abbot ’66, who are in real danger of playing Division One football next season unless they start to make good use of those games in hand. Jamie Soper, Matt Warman, Matt Pilkington and Jamie Beer found the net for the Moorlanders. Kingsteignton Athletic gave themselves some breathing space with a 4-2 win at Chudleigh Athletic and are now four points clear of the drop zone. The result for Chudleigh means that they have a ‘don’t lose’ game against Buckfastleigh Rangers next Saturday, who only have three games left to play to stay in the top division.

I had to look twice at the results coming in from Division One as they continue to surprise and shock. Result of the day must go to Barton Athletic who put seven goals past Mount Gould without reply, and it had me thinking ‘has that ever happened before?’ Certainly not since they joined the SDFL. Whilst there are still seven games to play, the result effectively leaves the door open for WBB and Barton to grab the two promotion places if they can hold their nerve. Bovey Tracey are another side that could spoil that party, and they will be pleased to get back to winning ways after a midweek defeat. A 2-1 success over Paignton Villa, who themselves are only three points from second place, was a good result for Bovey, who are nine points behind with two games in hand. There are still six teams that could be promoted from this division, and the team with the most games to play are Elburton Villa Reserves, who have just played only their second league game since 25th October. They have seven games in hand with 15 games to play in seven weeks and a big squad to choose from. They won 2-1 against an improving Buckland Athletic Reserves side, who are going to take some points from opposition in the final weeks of the season with a new management team looking on. Brixham Town remain in third place, and an eight-nil win versus the rollercoaster team in the division – Watcombe Wanderers – will be a tonic for the Fishermen, who have just three games left to end this term. In the battle at the bottom of Division One, the ‘don’t lose’ email was fully read and understood by both teams, as Liverton United and Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds shared the points in a 3-3 draw. Nik Garrett and Rhys Fewings were on target at Halford, and the result leaves both teams with a chance to stay in the division, but there are only two points separating the bottom three, who are eight points adrift from safety.

In Division Two, the pre-season favourites Signal Box Oak Villa moved to within three points of the title with a four-nil win at Ivybridge Town Reserves; they have three games remaining. It’s their first season in the SDFL, and having only lost two league games and three cup games all season, the challenge of finding new towns and villages up the A38 has been as enjoyable as their form on the pitch, and they can look forward to the challenges that Division One will throw at them next season. A win for Oak Villa at Harbertonford on 25th April will secure the trophy. Babbacombe Corries have also had a great season and have pushed Oak Villa all the way, and a nine-nil win over a struggling Upton Athletic almost seals second place but not quite. Keiron Sweet was again on target for Corries, with four goals, and there were singles for Jack Cousins, Curtis Marshall, Lee Mcarthur, Oliver Riches and Jordan Bradshaw. Drake FC could catch Corries should results go their way, and the two sides meet in the divisional cup final next Friday at Dartington, which should be a great game. Harbertonford increased the gap at the bottom to 11 points by beating Newton Rovers 4-1; goals for Billy Bright, Isaac Phillips and Kyle Northcott looks to have condemned Rovers to Division Three football next season where undoubtably they will have a better season. Paignton Villa Seconds moved up a place to seventh with a 4-1 victory over East Allington United Seconds which inflicted a 4-1 double loss for the South Hams outfit on a day to forget for them. Villa should be happy with a mid-table berth in what has been a tough division with some good teams.

The runaway leaders in Division Three continue to plough through their opposition. Galmpton United remain on top having played three games more than Kingskerswell, who must still be considered favourites for the title. Galmpton had a five-nil win at Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves, and ‘Kerswell scored ten goals without reply against a South Brent side who still have ten games to play in what is becoming an annual event at Palstone Park in keeping the neighbours awake on a Tuesday and Thursday evening in May. There are just two points separating the bottom four teams, and one of them is Ipplepen Athletic Reserves. They lost 3-1 at Stoke Gabriel TP Reserves, and with five games left to play, they could do with finding a win from one of their four remaining home games. Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves have had a great season, and with eight games still to play, they will be looking for a top three finish. This week, they won five-nil against a good Kingsteignton Athletic second team who remain in fourth place with six games to play.

In Division Four, the top two places have been nailed on for some time, but Chudleigh Athletic Seconds and Teign Village have not got the job done just yet. Chudleigh did their bit this week by winning 6-1 at home to Waldon Athletic Thirds and now need just four points from four games to win promotion, depending on lots of permutations from Waldon Athletic Thirds, Bere Alston United Reserves and Barton Athletic Seconds who are in a bit of form at the moment. Barton won 12-2 at Paignton Saints Thirds to remain very much in the mix. Charlie Uniacke and Nathen Crook both scored four goals each to keep the pressure on the top two for now.

Games to catch:

This Friday evening the 24th April sees the Division Two Lidstone Cup Final being played at Totnes and Dartington’s ground Foxhole. This season’s finalists are Drake FC and Babbacombe Corinthians. The teams sit in fourth and second in the league, and Corries won the only league encounter three-nil. The game has a 6.30pm kick-off, and the host club will have a full bar and food service available, and there is plenty of parking. The weather forecast is looking good, so get yourself along to Dartington to watch a great game of football in the sunshine.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

the windmill dartmouth cup winners 2025

Midweek Premier results from the competition that keeps on giving

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 5th APR, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of The Windmill contributed by SDFL

The much awaited meeting between two of the division’s title contenders did not disappoint, and in yet another game in the Torbay Clearance Services league that could well have been played at a higher level, Lakeside Athletic and Ilsington Villa eventually shared the points in a 3-3 thriller and hand a slight advantage to Windmill who continue to lead the division.

At the other end of the division, the relegation places are far from decided as Buckfastleigh Rangers continue their rich vain of form with a 4-1 win over fourth placed East Allington United at Poole Lane. In Division One, Bovey Tracey Reserves had a big midweek win at home to Brixham Town, by ten goals to nil, and effectively remove the Fishermen from the promotion race.

Last week, I wrote about the joy and pain experienced in playing in the Herald Cup, and that continued into this weekend as WBB had the joy and Chudleigh Athletic had to suffer the pain in the delayed quarter-final. The game ended 4-4 after 90 minutes, and with neither side able to conjure up a winner in extra-time, the dreaded penalty shoot-out went in favour of the Claymen, who scored four times to knock out their Premier Division opponents and progress to the semi-final where Lakeside Athletic lay in wait; the dates for the semis remain to be confirmed as the abandoned Paignton Saints v East Allington Unitted tie has still to be played.

In the Premier Division, Windmill (pictured) continue to lead the pack, and a fine 4-1 victory over Paignton Saints, courtesy of a Brodie Simpson hat-trick, keeps the Plymouth-based team as the team to beat and leaves Saints’ season hinging on that Herald Cup game.

Lakeside Athletic will be glad to see the back of Totnes and Dartington after their latest battle ended in a 2-2 draw; the Tots have taken four points from Athletic this season and dented their title hopes while, of course, picking up a valuable point in their own hopes for survival. Plymouth True Blues got back to winning ways with a comprehensive 5-1 win at Newton Abbot ’66. Five different players got on the scoresheet, and True Blues remain on course for a top three place. Ilsington Villa continue to plug away at the points shortfall between themselves and the top three, and enjoyed a hard-fought 3-2 win against Kingsteignton Athletic, where the referee had a busy afternoon, but goals from Dan Langford, George Dixon and Jamie Soper keeps the Moorlanders chasing a league and cup double.

In the Division One cup, Barton Athletic slipped up in a 3-1 loss at Watcombe Wanderers; goals from club stalwart Sean Finch, Ollie Dowell and James Smith ensured that the Greens go into the semi-final to save their season. Paignton Villa also bowed out of the Dartmouth Cup at the hands of Elburton Villa Reserves, who are also chasing a league and cup double.  Mount Gould continue to put pressure on the top three, and a good 4-1 victory at Beesands Rovers probably puts the Bees out of the promotion race as they are running out of games to play. Bentley Alcantara, Ray Spear and Billy Eccles won the points for the Mounties. Brixham Town finally won a game after a torrid run of form since the turn of the year. A 2-1 victory at Buckland Athletic Reserves will give the Fishermen some hope of a strong run in to the end of May.

In Division Two, Signal Box Oak Villa are just nine points away from claiming the divisional title following a hard-earned victory at East Allington United Seconds with a 4-2 scoreline. Jordan Richards was a hat-trick hero, not for the first time this season, and there was a single strike from Ryan Willis. Drake FC and Ashburton fought out a 2-2 draw at Manadon, a result that neither of these two promotion contenders would have wanted. Kameron Pouladge was the man of the match for Ashes with both goals. Ivybridge Town Reserves and Paignton Villa Seconds also shared the points in a 1-1 stalemate and remain just outside the top three. In the divisional cup, Babbacombe Corries progressed at the hands of Paignton Saints Reserves with a one-nil scoreline thanks to Kieron Sweet.

In the Division Three and Four cups, Kingskerswell, Harbertonford, Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves, Ipplepen Athletic Seconds, Galmpton United and Bere Alston Reserves all made it through in their respective divisional cups.

Game to catch this week:

As we enter cup final season, the opener is the Fred Hewings final which serves up a Newton Abbot derby game between Spurs Thirds and ’66 Seconds at Buckfastleigh Rangers on Friday evening with a 7pm kick off. Spurs are the highest ranked team in the knockout competition for reserve teams, but they have not had the best of seasons in Division One, currently sitting at the foot of the table; ’66 have had a decent season in Division Three and currently sit just in fifth place but are typical of any side from ’66 and that is that they are difficult to beat; although there are two divisions between the teams, depending on how the divisions finish, this game could in fact be a league fixture next season. There is plenty of parking, and a full bar and food service will be available.

Enjoy your grassroots cup finals.

ilsington villa sdfl premier division 2025

Villa edge St Martins as five SDFL clubs make it to Round Two of the Premier Cup.

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 6th SEP, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Ilsington Villa contributed by SDFL

The opening day fixtures were reduced to just 16 games to allow the County Cups to start. The games that SDFL teams were involved in produced 143 goals, plenty of talking points and a few shock results.

There were some disappointed teams this week who received a bye in the county cups but were not able to arrange a league fixture on the opening day of the season due to a number of reasons. In fact, no Premier Division games were played at all, and only three Division One games went ahead, but each of them involved a team that was either promoted from Division Two or relegated from the top division.

Beesands Rovers, fresh out of the Premier Division, set out their stall on opening day with a 3-1 victory at WBB. A double strike from Jack Eades was enough for the Bees to take three points on the opening day back to the South Hams. But it’s Paignton Villa who top the table after week one with a 5-2 win at newly promoted Barton Athletic, with five goals from five different players: Tom Evans, Tom Meyer, Charlie Thomas, Suliman Yaha and Ashlie Salmon all found the back of the net and forced the Villa supporters to be taking screenshots of the league table. The team that came up with Barton from Division Two, Liverton United, had a more fruitful start to the season with a hard earned 5-4 victory, at Halford, versus Brixham Town. Jack Shelton set Livvy on their way, but a hat-trick for last season’s golden boot winner Jamie Passmore sealed the deal for the home team. Graham Mercieca also got on the score-sheet in what was an entertaining game.

In Division Two, all eyes were on Long Lane where Watcombe Wanderers Seconds were going to be the first team to face last season’s Plymouth and District champions, and they not only faced them, they beat them by 5 goals to 2 thanks to a single Cam Kelly strike and an impressive four goals for Jamie Orchard in what was a great way for the Greens to get their season off to a flyer. Harbertonford, who very nearly went out of business during the summer, also got their season off to a positive start with a 5-3 victory against East Allington Utd Seconds; single strikes from Billy Bright and Keiron Hanson were surpassed by a hat-trick from George Condon to give Fords their first opening day win for three seasons. Newly promoted Drake FC took the points on opening day from their fixture against Paignton Saints Seconds, at Coach Road; a narrow 2-1 win was enough for the Plymouth-based team to enjoy the journey home. The final victors in Division Two were Ivybridge Town Reserves who won 1-nil at White Rock against Paignton Villa Seconds; following two relegations in a row, no doubt they will be delighted to get their season off to a good start and have something to build on. Villa will be disappointed not to find a goal, especially as they were a new set of goalposts; perhaps Kevin will get the old ones back out next week.

Division Three is tipped to be anybody’s division, and newly promoted Templer Way came a cropper at home against Liverton United Seconds who won 6-2 with goals from Oliver West and Simon Ross before Kye Graham helped himself to four goals. Chris Bennett and Brad Breslan were on target for the Bishopsteignton-based team who will reset and probably win more than they lose during the course of the season. Kingskerswell have not forgotten how to win: a 3-2 victory versus a young Kingsteignton Athletic Second side who made the more experienced team work for the points, and it may just be ‘Kerswell who have to call on some reinforcements to continue their rise. Stoke Gabriel TP just got the better of a Newton Abbot ’66 Second team that don’t lose many games during the course of a season; Daniel Triseze, Adam Blackburn and Elliot Osman were on target for the Bees in a 3-2 win that sets them off and running in what will be a tough campaign. South Brent were the other team that made a positive start to their season: a 1-nil home win against a young Ipplepen Athletic Second team, thanks to a single strike by Taylor Kasitz, was a tonic for Brent who, for the past few seasons, have got behind with fixtures and, like a lot of clubs, have worked hard behind the scenes to keep a team in the town going, so well done to all at South Brent. The other game that was played in this division was fortunate to have an experienced referee in charge. Galmpton United, playing their first game back in the SDFL for three seasons, drew the game against Waldon Athletic Seconds 2-2, but they finished the game with ten players, and Waldon Athletic, who had 4 yellow cards, have come close to a county misconduct charge, so an expensive first day of the season for both clubs who have a point each on the league table.

Bere Alston United Seconds, the new boys in Division Four, got off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over a stubborn Newton Rovers reserve team; goals from Adam Daymond and Joshua Hewes did the trick for the team that were playing in an under-16 league last season. Chudleigh Athletic Seconds top the division following a 9-1 thumping of Paignton Saints Thirds, and they will be looking to go one better this season after just losing out on promotion last term. Teign Village, who finished in third place last season, have also set out their stall for the new season with a 6-3 victory over Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. Whilst the visitors went home empty handed, they will be pleased to get one of their longest trips out of the way on the opening day. Elliot Glasser scored a brace in the final game to be played in Division Four at Cricketfield Road, where Waldon Athletic Thirds and Barton Athletic Seconds fought out an entertaining 2-2 draw in front of a decent crowd that preferred grassroots to Plainmoor and saved themselves £20 in the process.

The County Cups got underway this week, and there are high expectations for some of the SDFL teams to go all the way in all three adult competitions. Safely through to Round Two in the Premier Cup are Ilsington Villa, who beat St Martins (Exeter) 3-2; Newton Abbot ’66, who won on penalties versus Budleigh Salterton (Step 7); Chudleigh Athletic, who won 2-1 at Torridgeside Reserves (North Devon) and Paignton Saints, 5-1 winners at Totnes & Dartington.

In the Senior Cup, Elburton Villa Reserves and Mount Gould progressed comfortably, but Bovey Tracey Reserves made the long trip to Merton and scored 12 goals without reply.

In the Intermediate Cup, Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds also made it into the hat with a 3-1 win over Paignton Villa Thirds. The remainder of the first round ties are being played over the next two weeks, although there have been a large number of byes.

Games to catch on Saturday 13th September:

The standout fixture in the top division will be at Osborne Park where Newton Abbot ’66 face Lakeside Athletic in what will be a Premier Division christening for the Plymouth-based team against a Sixes side that are difficult to beat. In Division One, Elburton Villa Reserves welcome Beesands Rovers to Haye Road for a fixture that last season was played as a Premier Division game, and one of the pre-season favorites Bovey Tracey open with a home game versus Watcombe Wanderers. In Division Two, all eyes will be on Manadon Sports Centre where new boys Signal Box will be looking for an immediate improvement after losing their opening game. They are at home to Newton Rovers, and Ashburton, who enjoyed a promotion season last time out, face an East Allington United Second team who came very close to promotion themselves last season but lost on the opening day; this should be a good game to watch. Game of the day in Division Three is at Michael’s Field where Templer Way welcome Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds who will be no pushovers, and both will be looking to get points on the board after suffering defeat last week. Last season’s Division Four champions, with a 100% record, Kingskerswell travel to relegated Ipplepen Athletic Reserves who have made some interesting signings during the summer and, depending on when they are due at university, they could have a bearing on the outcome and that record. If you are looking for a game in Torquay, then look no further than Cricketfield Road where a very young Bere Alston United team will face Waldon Athletic Thirds in the game of the day in Division Four.

All fixtures are available on the league’s full time website, and they all KO at 2.30pm. With Torquay United and Argyle playing away from home, get out and support your grassroots football team!