TORBAY CLEARANCE SERVICES, SOUTH DEVON FOOTBALL LEAGUE. WEEKLY MATCH REPORTS 15th NOV, report by Alastair Muirden.
For the first time this season, the league management issued a wet weather protocol for clubs which affected the reduced league program of only 14 games, of which only four went ahead, and due to the County Cups competition being fixtured, this was also close to a washout with just five being played.
One year ago to the day, Plymouth True Blues had made it to the top of Division One, scoring three goals against Windmill. Fast forward 12 months, and they are now on top of the Premier Division thanks to scoring three goals against Totnes and Dartington. The result was testament to the quality of competition in this division where there is little to choose between top and bottom, and on another day, the visitors, who scored twice, could have got something from the game. On target for the Blues were Tyler Almond and super sub Lee Phillips who scored twice. Bliues move two points clear of Windmill and six clear of Newton Abbot ’66 in third, and interestingly, East Allington United, who are fifth from bottom, are 11 points behind but have four games in hand.
Ashburton took advantage of the non runners and cruised into fourth place with a 5 – 2 home win versus Paignton Saints Seconds thanks to goals from golden boot chaser Lee Grimshaw (2), Dan Steer, Sean Richards and Alex Hambly. The result leaves Saints fourth from bottom but on this form, they will be picking up enough points to be top of the bottom half of the division which at the moment, seems to be in two parts.
Incredibly, the game at Harbertonford went ahead where normally it only has to cloud over for the game to be off, but all credit to the volunteers who managed to keep the water in the river and flowing away from the pitch. A 1 – 1 draw against a good Paignton Villa Second team keeps both teams just five points off second place and more than capable of challenging as the season goes on.
In Division Four, the only game to survive was on the council owned Bakers Park, where Newton Rovers Seconds hosted Barton Athletic Seconds, and it was the Torquay based team who came away with the points in a 2-nil win that puts them joint third with Brixham Town Seconds and Bere Alston United Reserves; Rovers remain rooted to the bottom and could really do with a morale boosting win to set them up for the rest of the season.
County Cups:
Three games went ahead in the Premier Cup, and safely through to the next round are Ilsington Villa, who won at home to Sidmouth Town Seconds 7 – 3. Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves won the all South Devon game 5 – 2 at East Allington United, but one of the favourites, Lakeside Athletic, crashed out 4-nil at Appledore. Now that’s a long journey home.
In the Senior Cup, through to the next round are Bovey Tracey Reserves and Mount Gould who both got a walkover from North and East Devon clubs. Beesands Rovers came close but lost against Exeter opposition in a penalty shootout.
In the Intermediate Cup, Kingsteignton Athletic Seconds also lost in a penalty shootout in Exeter, but well done to Totnes and Dartington Seconds who won 1-nil versus mid Devon club Sandymere Blues thanks to a John Smith winner which they held on to for 76 minutes.
Golden Boot update:
The top three goalscorers in each division are: In the Premier, Callum Noyce of Ilsington Villa leads the way with 12 league goals followed by JJ Honeywell (Lakeside Athletic) and Gavin Lake (Chudleigh Athletic), both on 8.
In Division One, Bentley Alcantara of Mount Gould has 9 and team mate Ray Spear is on 8; Suliman Yahya of Paignton Villa has scored 7 times.
Division Two’s front runner is Lee Grimshaw of Ashburton with 11; Louis George of Drake F.C. and Jordan Rickards of Signal Box are both on 10 league goals each.
In Division Three, Ollie Critchlow of Kingskerswell is on 11 as is Harley Hooper of Galmpton United; Daniel Trzise of Stoke Gabriel TP is on 10 goals.
Division Four has the overall leader at the moment in Jack Salmons of Chudleigh Athletic Seconds who has found the net on 16 occasions so far, so well done to Jack. Lewis Reeman of Brixham Town is on 9, and Alexander Easson of Teign Village is in third place on 7 league goals.
Games to catch on Saturday 22nd November:
These fixtures are subject to change to allow the postponed County Cup games to be played, so please check the full-time website before travelling to a game.
Whilst most games in the Premier Division are big, well-supported games, some just catch the eye as games that can shape the division. Chudleigh Athletic host Buckfastleigh Rangers in a November relegation battle!!! Out of form Ilsington Villa play Lakeside Athletic, who really can’t afford to lose again so early in the season; Newton Abbot ’66 travel to Windmill looking to become the first team to get the better of the Plymouth side; True Blues travel to champions and in form Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves in an attempt to keep their own winning run intact and Totnes and Dartington host East Allington United in a game where both teams could do with picking up three points.
In Division One, two of the top three meet at JC park where Brixham Town play WBB in what should be a cracker, and there is an all Division One derby in the Herald Cup at Bovey Tracey Reserves where Liverton United are the visitors. In Division Two, the top two meet at Long Lane where Babbacombe Corries meet Signal Box, who will be looking to be the first team to beat Corries this season, and in the same division, Ashburton will need to be at their best to come home from Drake F.C. with three points. In Division Three, there is a tasty tie at Osborne park where Newton Abbot ’66 Seconds meet Kingskerswell and get their chance to beat the runaway leaders for the first time, and finally, in Division Four, what could be the South Devon League equivalent of Truro playing Gateshead is Teign Village playing at Bere Alston in a second versus fourth fixture. Safe travels.
Enjoy your grassroots football.