Covid and jet lag hits footballers in county cup competitions

In fact Babbacombe Corries and Brixham AFC were unable to travel to North Devon to fulfil their fixtures. Bovey Tracey 2nds were due to play Seaton Town from East Devon in a county cup game but Seaton were unable to raise a team as a number of players had tested positive for Covid. Let's hope that is not a sign of things to come.

Well done to the South Devon League teams that made it into round two of the respective county cup competitions, Beesands Rovers had a tight game against the 10 players of Watts Blake Bearne winning by 3 goals to 2. Waldon Athletic clearly did not suffer any travel issues dispatching Hartland / Clovelly from the North Devon league by 4 goals to 1. Result of the day in the Premier Cup goes to Ilsington Villa who thrashed step 7 club Topsham Town by 7 goals to 1, Mathew Warman scored a hat trick with Dan Langford going one better with four goals to continue a very impressive start to the season for the Moorlanders.

In the senior cup Paignton Saints 1st XI, playing their first competitive game since moving to the South Devon League from step 7, were tested at Watcombe Wanderers who held them to a 1 – 1 draw. With no extra time in this competition it went straight to penalties and Saints came out on top scoring four of their spot kicks to Watcombe's one. Totnes and Dartington also made it through with a 4 – 3 win at Sidmouth Town.

In the Intermediate Cup another mention must be given to East Allington 2nds who made the 196 mile round trip to Lynton only to suffer a 4 – 1 defeat. Club stalwart Martin Weeks said the lads were feeling some jet lag on arrival and could not shake it off. Well done for making the trip and representing the SDFL up north. Also in this competition South Brent had an impressive 5 – 1 victory against Millwey Rise from Axminster and Teign Village got their season up and running with a 2 nil victory at South Zeal.

There were also some South Devon League games played, mostly for teams that received byes in the first rounds of the county cups. Morley Rangers go top of the Premier League with a 4 – 1 win over Chudliegh Athletic. Corbin Mackin, Dean Jenkins and Dalton Brammer were on target for the Plymstock outfit.

In Division One Shaun Langdon's Brixham Town are the early leaders after two games. They put six past Harbertonford without reply at their new J.C park ground which I am told is all fitted out with new facilities. Upton Athletic came out on top of a cracking game at Armada Park beating Buckland Ath 2nds by 5 goals to 4 which gets them off the mark.

In Division Two. Barton Athletic made it two wins from two with a fine 5 – 4 victory against Paignton Villa 2nds. Liam Northcott hit four goals with Zac Norton adding to their tally. Newton Rovers got their season off and running with a 6 – 1 victory over Brixham Town 2nds at Bakers Park whilst Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds got their first win of the season beating Waldon Athletic 2nds 3 – 2 at Windmill Hill.

In Division Three. Watcombe Wanderers 2nds look like the team to beat made it 2 out of 2 dispatching a strong Liverton Utd 1st team by 5 goals to 2 and Totnes and Dartington 2nds found winning form by beating Paignton Saints 3rds 4 – 1 Scott Troth Sam Brown and Nick Warren on the score sheet for Tots.

In Division Four. Drake FC, Babbacombe Corries 2nds and Liverton Utd 2nds all made it two wins from two with impressive results, Drake FC hit 12 past Paignton Villa 3rds. Liverton Utd 2nds scored 7 against South Brent 2nds and Babbacombe Corries won 4 – 1 at home to Watcombe Wanderers 3rds. Kingsteington Ath 2nds picked up their first win of the season hosting Barton Ath 2nds at Broadpark. James Perrins, Sam Arthurs and Austin West on the score sheet for the young Rams.

Here are a selection of the pick of the fixtures this coming Saturday, September 16.

Premier Division. Beesands Rovers host Morley Rangers. Last season they both met in Division One with the Bees getting the better which led to promotion for both teams. Both can play football and would be worth a drive to Loddiswell playing fields. Buckfastleigh Rangers and Ilsington Villa have got off to a winning start and this will be another test for the premier new boys against championship favourites at the Ducks Pond. Arguably the game of the day is the local derby between Watts Blake Bearne and Kingsteington Athletic, both licking their wounds following opening day defeats.
In Division One the stand out game is Buckland Athletic 2nds against Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds. Last season they were both in the Devon league and both had wins on the opening day of their new membership of the South Devon League.

Game of the day in Division Two is Paignton Saints 2nds and Bovey Tracey 2nds, both pretty much favourites to be in division One next season so don’t be surprised if it’s a tight game.

In Division Three both Liverton Utd and Watcombe Wanderers 2nds got off to winning starts so it will be interesting to see who takes the points at Halford.

Finally in Division |Four South Brent 2nds who were playing Sunday football last season host Elburton Villa 3rds at Palstone Park.The young Plymouth team should enjoy the space on one of the larger open pitches in the league. Both got wins on opening day by 5 goals to 1 and both will be looking to keep some momentum going.