Tag: plymouth true blues

newton abbot 66 south devon football league 2025

Scoring records smashed in another South Devon Football League jamboree

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 4th OCT, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Newton Abbot ’66 contributed by SDFL

Whilst there were 176 goals in total scored, and yes Ashburton did actually score 24 of them in one game, it’s True Blues that continue to be upwardly mobile at the top of the Premier Division.

Unbeaten Newton Abbot ’66 (pictured) surrendered that record in a 4-1 defeat at Millbay Park to a Plymouth True Blues side that are setting the pace. Louis Brace scored a brace, with Mike Storey and Joe Couttes hitting singles to keep the Gers one point ahead of Ilsington Villa, who brought Totnes and Dartington back down to earth with a 3-nil win at Foxhole; once again, Callum Noyce was on the scoresheet and seems to be enjoying his Saturdays again. Jamie Soper and Daniel Langford also found the back of the net to bring the points back to the Carps.

Windmill are also well placed just two points behind Villa but with a game in hand following a fine 5-1 win at Paignton Saints courtesy of strikes from Brodie Simpson, Miles Hunt, Cory Distin and Jack Biscoe. The recommended watch for the week was at Kingsteignton Athletic, and the game did not disappoint. The visitors Lakeside Athletic had lost two of their three opening games and another defeat this early in the season would not have helped the cause. The man in the middle certainly had a busy afternoon, and the crowd enjoyed a nine goal thriller, which the visitors just shaded by the odd goal late in the game. Last season’s champions Newton Abbot Spurs finally got their first win of the season beating Buckfastleigh Rangers by eight goals to nil. Jacob Wales scored a hat-trick, and there were singles for Aiden Blackie, Gav Collins, Kye Drinkwater and Freddie Heath.

In Division One, pre-season favourites Mount Gould have taken over at the top and are the only team in this section with a 100 % record. A fine 7-2 home win against a fancied Beesands Rovers side, looking to bounce straight back into the top division, was set up with four goals from Bentley Alcantara, who is looking well-placed to do well in the race for the golden boot. Brixham Town and WBB are both level on points with the Mounties having both lost on the same day. Town were beaten 3-2 by a decent Watcombe Wanderers team who should win more than they lose, and the Claymen lost 2-1 at home to Barton Athletic who despite being fifth from bottom, are just three points off the top. Elburton Villa Reserves moved into fourth place following a 3-2 win at Liverton United, with goals from Lucas Phillips and Finley Lyle. Both Bovey Tracey Reserves and Paignton Villa got back to winning ways with good wins. Bovey had a comfortable afternoon at Homers Heath, with a 6-nil win against Buckland Athletic Reserves, and Villa recorded a 4-1 win versus a Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds team playing only their second game of the season.

Division Two has had most stats people checking the records for 56 goals in one Saturday in one division; I think they are still looking. Ashburton may have stolen the headlines with their 24 goals, but credit must go to Watcombe Wanderers Seconds for never giving up and even at 17-nil changing the formation to try something different, so well done to them, and I am sure they enjoyed their Saturday night out. There is not enough space for all the scorers but a mention for a substitute James Martin who came on with 15 minutes to go and scored four times. Dan Steer also scored four and Lee Grimshaw hit six. Paignton Saints Seconds picked up their first win of the season, and what a way to win: an 11-2 result versus Upton Athletic will give Saints something to build on.

At the top, Ivybridge Town Reserves gave up their 100% start to the season by losing 2-nil to Harbertonford and are now one of four teams on 12 points; George Gordon and Isaac Phillips were the match-winners for the Fords who are just three points off the top. Signal Box Oak Villa lead the division on goal difference thanks to a 6-1 win at Paignton Villa Seconds. A hat-trick from Jordan Rickard and singles from Paul Thompson, Harley Mitchell and Karl White secured the points that were heading down the A38. Babbacombe Corries’ 100% record remains intact, and a 5-nil win against an East Allington United Second team that have not had the best start to a season keeps Corries well placed. Drake FC are the fourth team level at the top and seem to be worthy of a place in Division Two; a 5-nil win at Newton Rovers keeps the Plymouth-based team as early contenders for a third promotion having never finished in the top two.

Division Three is a more straightforward division. Kingskerswell have opened up a six point gap between first and third, and their 100% record looks to be in good hands. Kyle Doughty, Toby Ballard and Sean McArdle scored the goals in a 4-nil win over Totnes and Dartington Seconds. Galmpton United trail three points behind and look the most likely to dent ‘Kerswell’s record, and a 2-1 win over a good Kingsteignton Athletic Second team keeps them well placed for that challenge. Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds go about their business under the radar, and a 3-1 home win versus South Brent moves them into fourth place, four points behind Galmpton. Templer Way had a shock loss this week, an 8-1 reverse against Stoke Gabriel TP has given the Bishopsteignton-based team some catch up work to do in their second season in the competition. For SGTP, they have two games in hand that could see them in the top three if they can win them. Liverton United Seconds move into fourth place with a 2-1 win over Buckfastleigh Rangers Seconds thanks to goals from Simon Ross and Kye Graham. Rangers remain pointless alongside Ipplepen Athletic Seconds and Totnes and Dartington Seconds, and all three teams have come close to picking up points so cant be far away from kick-starting the season.

Division Four has also opened up a tad, with Teign Village winning 4-1 at home against Paignton Villa Thirds to move three points clear of local rivals Chudleigh Athletic Seconds who were on County Cup duty on a non-County Cup weekend, and Brixham Town Seconds moved into third place with a great 6-nil win over Newton Rovers Seconds at Bakers Park. Kingsbridge and Kellaton United also had a great win in another nine goal thriller, 5-4 against a travelling Bere Alston United Reserves side is a good result in anybody’s book, but for a team that has endured more struggles than most, shows real character in the group of players that they have.

Games to catch on Saturday 11th October:

With no SDFL league games being played due to the County Cups taking place, It’s your opportunity to watch teams from other parts of Devon. This week’s pick of the bunch in the Premier Cup are Chudleigh Athletic at home to Step 7 club Ipplepen Athletic, Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves host North Molton and Ilsington Villa will welcome East Budleigh. Waldon Athletic are due back to playing duty and host Upottery at Windmill Hill.

In the Senior Cup, there are a number of South Devon v Exeter games: East Allington United Seconds v Newtown; Brixham Town v Exeter University Thirds; Beesands v Dawlish United; Barton Athletic v Central FC, and likewise in the Intermediate Cup: Kingsbridge and Kellaton United host Starcross Dons; Teign Village v Cheriton Fitzpayne. The draw has been kind to most South Devon-based teams which will cause the Referee Secretary a headache with so many playing at home, but spare a thought for Exmouth Albion who have to travel to Bere Alston United Seconds, a round trip of just 122 miles. All of these games start at 2pm.

Enjoy your grassroots football.

True Blues take over at the top

TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 27th SEP, report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Watts Blake Bearne contributed by SDFL

Sixes win the Newton Abbot derby, T & D win at Lakeside, Saints put five past Ilsington and True Blues who go top for the first time. But hey, its just another Saturday in the South Devon League.

Plymouth True Blues lead the way into October at the top of the Premier Division thanks to a very close game at Chudleigh Athletic. Just one goal separated the sides courtesy of a Bailey Williams strike, and for the second week in a row, Chudleigh will be kicking themselves to come away from a game pointless. In the Newton Abbot derby, it was ’66 that came out on top with a 2-1 win over near neighbours Spurs thanks to a Tom Lowe double strike. It is incredible that after just two games, Sixes are the only Premier team with a 100% record. Looks like its going to be a cracking season. And now for the eyebrow-raising results: Kingsteignton Athletic dropped their first points of the season with a 1-nil home defeat to East Allington United; a single goal from Ben Taylor was enough for the points to head back to the South Hams, and at Coach Road, Paignton Saints had a great result in upsetting Ilsington Villa in a nine goal thriller which included four goals from Jake Powell and a single from Brandon Kelly; Saints swept into a three goal lead within 13 minutes of KO, whilst Villa will be pleased that new signing Callum Noyce continues to bang in the goals, but his hat-trick, and the fact that they ended the game with less players than they started with, will no doubt leave a bittersweet taste. The penultimate report from the Premier Division is all about Totnes and Dartington who picked up their first points of the season with an acca killer result, bearing in mind that Lakeside Athletic, who had only lost two league games in three years, lost again to make it two defeats in three weeks in the Torbay Clearance Services top division. A fantastic 2-1 win for the visitors, with goals from Harri Hardy and Josh Squire, will no doubt help Jono Beardsmore sleep well this week. The final game in the Premier Division was at Millennium Fields, where Windmill put ten goals past a Buckfastleigh Rangers side that are not having the best of times but will hopefully overcome the challenges.

In Division One, only Mount Gould have a 100% record, and today, they cruised passed Liverton United with a 6-1 scoreline thanks to Aaron and Ray Spear, Bentley Alcantara and Jack Trigger.

At the top, Brixham Town and Watts Blake Bearne (pictured above) are neck and neck after four outings, and both had to go the extra mile to pick up maximum points this week; Town won 3-2 against a good Barton Athletic side at JC Park to remain heading in the right direction.

And WBB looked to be sharing the points at home to Watcombe Wanderers who did more than enough to win the game until Cam Gill hit the winner 10 minutes from time to give Darren and Dexter a good start to the season and something to build on. Beesands Rovers got back to winning ways thanks to a tight 3-2 win against Paignton Villa; goals from Jack Eades, Joe Tucker and Ollie Mitchell were enough for the points to head back to the South Hams.

Elburton Villa Reserves also picked up their first win of the 25/26 season with a comfortable 5-1 win versus Buckland Athletic Reserves at Haye Road .Just to put this division into some context, Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds have only played one game due to postponements and free weeks, and they are the only team that have not won a game, so this is looking like a division where any team can beat any team; and apart from Mount Gould, they have.

Division Two is also shaping up for a good competition. After four games, only two have not won a game, and only Ivybridge Town Reserves and Babbacombe Corries have an unbeaten record. Ivies had a fairly comfortable afternoon in a game that was played without an official referee; a 4-1 win at Bakers Park, at the hands of Newton Rovers, was enough to take the points back down the A38. Goals from Joshua Hill and Daniel Jones made sure of another victory for Corries against Paignton Saints Seconds, but they had to work for the 3-2 win, and the two goals they conceded were the first of the season, so the Corries ‘keeper falls from grace in the golden glove race. Drake FC are one of four teams level on 9 points, and they had to work hard for their 4-3 win at East Allington United Seconds. As did Signal Box Oak Villa, who won at home to Ashburton by the odd goal in three. On target for the Plymouth side were Ryan Morgan and Paul Tompson. The final team on 9 points are Paignton Villa Seconds, who just edged a 1-nil win at Long Lane against a new look Watcombe Wanderers Second team to keep themselves well placed.

Division Three is going with the pre-season predictions that Kingskerswell and Galmpton United would be the two teams to beat, and both continue to be upwardly mobile. ‘Kerswell won 4-nil at Halford against an experienced Liverton United Reserves side, and Galmpton won the local derby versus Stoke Gabriel TP by 4 goals to 1. Harley Hooper scored a brace, with singles from Jack Rowell and Daniel White (full match report on Daves World). Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds and South Brent had a pleasant afternoon sharing a nil-nil draw, and Templer Way seem to have been reborn for this season; a 5-2 win at Totnes and Dartington Seconds puts them in the top four. Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds enjoyed another victory, this time a 3-1 success at Ipplepen Athletic Seconds puts them level on points with Templer and Liverton.

Division Four is also going with the pre-season predictions that Teign Village and Chudleigh Athletic Seconds would dominate and all eyes would be on the unknown in Bere Alston United under-18 side from last season. In a day of 75 year celebrations for the club, the Seconds delivered a 2-1 win over Kingsbridge and Kellaton United, and just up the road, Teign Village enjoyed a 5-1 win versus Newton Rovers Seconds. Both results keep the Clarets and Village clear at the top. Leading the chasing pack are Bere Alston United Seconds, who had an easy time of it at Broadhempston United where Adam and Steve Daymond scored five goals between them and Charlie Spry got a single strike to take the points down the A38 then up the A386! Brixham Town Seconds got their first win of the season, a 6-3 win at Paignton Saints Thirds was just what the Fishermen needed to get the season up and running.

Games to catch on Saturday 4th October:

The top division game to catch is at Millbay Park where True Blues welcome Newton Abbot ’66 for the first meeting between the teams. With True Blues in top spot and Sixes unbeaten, something has to give. Kingsteignton Athletic host what could be a nervous Lakeside team at Broadpark; the teams met in the Herald Cup last season, and only one goal separated them, so it should be a cracker. In Division One, there are a few games that will be worth a watch, but the reserve teams from Buckland Athletic versus Bovey Tracey meet at Homers Heath, and Watcombe Wanderers play Brixham Town at Long Lane in what will be a colourful event. The games of the day in Division Two are at White Rock, where Paignton Villa Seconds welcome Signal Box for the first time, and top of the table Ivybridge Town play Harbertonford in what is as close to a Plymouth derby for both sets of players. My pick of the bunch in Division Three is at Michaels Field, where Templer Way play a Stoke Gabriel TP side much in need of a promotion season, and Galmpton United have a tricky game versus a young Kingsteignton Athletic reserve side. Division Four also has a couple of games worthy of a watch. At White Rock, Paignton Villa Thirds play a Teign Village team in no mood to miss out on promotion this season, and down at Loddiswell, Kingsbridge and Kellaton United play Bere Alston United for the first time in both clubs’ history.

Enjoy your grassroots football.