Ilsington Villa's unbeaten run ends

At the top of the Premier division leaders Ilsington Villa finally surrendered their unbeaten run, losing by 3 goals to 2 to last season's champions Kingsteignton Athletic.
Luke Manuell, 2, and Joseph Long scored the goals that move the Rams up to 4th place. Daniel Langford and Jamie Soper replied for the hosts but it was not enough. Ilsington Villa stay top but only by one point ahead of Morley Rangers who did not play.
In the only other Premier game played Newton Abbot 66 came out on top in a feisty game against Waldon Athletic who finished the game with 10 players following a red card issued to Ashley Grimes. Sixes held on to their one nil advantage to remain in mid table where there are a cluster of five teams within three points of each other.
In division one Ivybridge Town move into top spot following an excellent 2-1 win at fellow pace setters Brixham Town. Jayden White and Matt Hill scored the goals that take the points back to Erme Valley.
Watcombe Wanderers also had a successful afternoon taking all three points at Paignton Villa, a result that moves them into fourth place and remain a tough team to beat.
At the other end of the table the bottom four teams played each other and the only team to pick up maximum points were Babbacombe Corries who won 4-3 at Armada Park against Upton Athletic. Brendon Highfield scored a hat trick and Alex Chaimberlain got the winner in a tense game on a sticky pitch. Both these teams will be moving to play at Stepps Cross in the new year as the changing rooms at Armada Park are being demolished and rebuilt. In the other game at the bottom Harbertonford and Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds shared the points in a 2-2 draw, a result that probably feels like a win for the Fords, Sebastion Looker and James Thomas were the scorers.
Division Two is turning into a five-horse race with two points separating the teams. Barton Athletic stay on top after a 7-0 demolition of Waldon Athletic 2nds at Paignton College, Paignton Saints 2nds also stay on course with a 2-0 win at Newton Rovers and it was one of a number of games that went ahead with a stand in referee due to the shortage of officials at all levels of football. Unfortunately the Torbay Clearance Services League takes the brunt of the shortage as they have to help higher leagues fulfil their own fixtures with three officials whilst managing to play a large number of games in this competition with no referees where the difference in the standard is minimal. The league management committee recently held a training session for stand in club volunteers to take charge of games and another one is planned for the new year as the situation with referees is not improving.
In Three of the Torbay Clearance Services League Ashburton failed to close the gap on leaders Watcombe Wanderers 2nds losing 1-2 at home to Newton Abbot 66 2nds in a surprise results. The points move sixes away from the dreaded drop zone whilst leaving the hosts six points off the leaders who were in county cup action. The other game played in this division was at Loddiswell where bottom team Kingsbridge and Kellaton welcomed second from bottom Paignton Saints 3rds and at one stage in the game the home team looked nailed on for their first win of the season, with one minute of the first half to play they were leading 2-0l. Within two minutes of the restart they were 2-3 behind and whilst they had chances they just fell short.
Billy Reay was the difference for Saints who added a fourth to move them out of the relegation spots but they wont be taking anything for granted as they have already played more than half of their league games and the teams around them have games in hand. A big well done is due to Tina Thomas of Kingsbridge and Kellaton who spent her Saturday morning marking the pitch, putting the nets up getting the changing rooms ready so that the game could be played, all of that while her husband Andy is in hospital, true dedication from a South Devon League stalwart and I am sure the players appreciate it.
In Four whilst most of the clubs were in county cup action Chudleigh Athletic 2nds took full advantage by recording the highest score so far by beating a young Watcombe Wanderers 3rds by 13-0. |The result puts them into 2nd place with the best goal difference in the division. Lloyd Hitchins scored five goals against his old club with Charlie Forey, James Bowden, Lois Hooper, Gavin Lake, Joe Potter, Gavin Martin and Thomas Stoppard finding the net for Chudleigh.
As we prepare for the last full league program in the Torbay Clearance Services League before the winter break there are some great recommended fixtures to catch.
The weather delayed Herald Cup game between Bovey Tracey 2nds and Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds kicks off at 2pm at the Western Counties ground and should be a Christmas cracker. In the Premier at the bottom of the table Chudeigh Athletic welcome bottom club Brixham AFG in a game where a win for the home team could make a massive difference to what division they play in next season.
The big game in One is at Holmers Heath where Buckland Athletic 2nds take on Brixham Town who will want to keep pace with the top three. The stand out game in Three is at Chuley Road Ashburton, the visitors Watcombe Wanderers 2nds will be looking to extend their lead at the top against the second placed hosts. Finally in Four and possibly game of the day is in Plymouth between Elburton Villa 3rds and Drake FC, both teams playing below the level that you would expect to see in this division meet for the first time in the competition at Haye Road in a league game that kicks off at 2.30pm
Just a reminder that you can check all of the other games being played at Fulltime.co.uk then search South Devon football league and you are in. enjoy your Saturday afternoon supporting grass roots football.