Football volunteers beat the weather

With the wet weather once again taking its toll on fixtures in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League, only four games were played in total - three of them on the artificial pitches and one on grass at the new J.C. Park in Brixham, writes Alastair Muirden.
Volunteers there worked miracles to prepare the ground for a Division Two game where Brixham Town 2nds hosted Newton Rovers. Town, bottom of the league and looking for their first win of the season, were able to call on three first team players to boost the squad as their game was off but to no avail. Rovers are a decent team and can beat anyone on their day and thanks to goals from Nathen De'Ath (two), Joe Marsh and Joe Roche set them up to take the points. 5-1 was the final score. Super Warren Coyle-Moore came on and got on the score sheet to finish off a hard working Brixham Town team who will regroup over the winter break.
Also in Two Barton Athletic remain top thanks to a thrilling 3-3 draw with rivals Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds on the 3g at Paignton College. The game was a credit to the standard of football being played in Division Two of the Torbay Clearance Services League and goals from Matt Bleakley, Liam Northcott and Ellis Rattue set the home team up but they were pegged back by a strong Spurs performance with goals from Toby Pullman and Frank Ornyik (two). Just two points separate the top five teams in this division and both of these will be there or thereabouts in May.
Paignton Saints returned to the top of Division One on goal difference thanks to a 6-1 win over bottom team Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds at Coach Road. Jamie Micklewright and Tom Kelly scored two goals each and Ben Clarke and Mathew Micklewright got one apiece to set Saints up for a top of the table game next week against Newton Abbot Spurs. At the other end of the table Rangers will be pleased to get this game out of the way to enable them to carry their cup form into some league games.
Totnes and Dartington moved into sixth place in One and with games in hand are well placed to make a challenge in the second half of the season. A 4-2 victory over Paignton Villa at South Devon College secured the points for the visitors. Ryan Walton (two), Harrison Hardy and another super sub performance from Finn Owen- Roberts won the points against a Villa team in the process of rebuilding on and off the pitch and remain close to mid table in what must be the strongest Division One for a number of years.
Whilst most of the teams in the Torbay Clearance Services League voted to have a free weekend on December 16 ahead of the winter break, some have chosen to play and there are some cracking games to catch just in case you need a break from the Christmas shopping.
In the Premier at Osborne Park Newton Abbot 66, who can beat anybody on their day, take on the leaders Ilsington Villa who will be looking to extend their lead at the top.
Arguably game of the day is at the top of One where Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds host Paignton Saints in a game that could possibly be a Premier Division fixture next year. Spurs will be looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat at Ivybridge and Saints will be looking to remain at the top of the division.
The big game in Two is the clash at Chuley Road, Ashburton, where Newton Abbot Spurs 3rd team play their home games welcome Paignton Saints 2nds in a game where a win for either team could put them top for Christmas.
There are no games in Three this week but who doesn't like a local derby at Christmas and between the top two in Division Four where Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds host Chudleigh Athletic 2nds in what should also be a cracker of a game.
So there are plenty of games to get you out of the house and thank you for supporting South Devon League Football.