Villa maintain top spot at Christmas

The final weekend of fixtures in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon League before the winter break in the main went with the form book apart from one, writes Alastair Muirden.
Ilsington Villa will spend Christmas at the top of the Premier and being four points clear of Morley Rangers and eight clear of Beesands Rovers they may well still be top in February.
A comfortable 4-0 win on a sticky Osborne Park against Newton Abbot 66 who could not deal with the pace of the Langford brothers who continue to bang in the goals for the Moorlanders, two for Daniel makes him the club's joint top goal scorer and one for brother Jack and one for Jack Dixon was enough to send manager Tony Lacey home for a happy Christmas.
Elsewhere last season's champions Kingsteignton Athletic have moved into third place under the radar, a close 1-0 victory at bottom club Brixham AFC thanks to a strike from Tom Reeves sealed the points for the Rams.
Chudleigh Athletic hosted East Allington United in the big game at the wrong end of the table and in front of a good crowd the home team came out on top with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Nick Garrett and Jack Lee. The result leaves the pirates one place above relegation and in desperate need of a win as soon as possible in 2024.
What was billed as the game of the day at the top of One of the Torbay Clearance Services League lived up to its expectation. A decent attendance at Newton Rec saw Newton Abbot Spurs outplay favourites Paignton Saints to keep the division promotion race wide open. They say that players change games and in Joe Bushin and Ollie Critchlow Spurs had two players that Saints could not handle. Critchlow scored a hat trick and both used their Western league experience to set up goals for Jake Mitchell and Jack Upsher. Saints did score three but they were all late consolation goals and at 5-0 nil in front with 12 minutes to play the game was over. The result means that with Ivybridge Town winning 5-0 at Armada Park against Babbacombe Corries thanks to goals from Marshall Barnes (two), Harry Elliott and Jayden White (two) they will top for the winter break. There are now six teams in this division chasing those two automatic places to the Premier League. One of them is Totnes and Dartington who have moved into fourth place thanks to a 4 nil win at home to Upton Athletic. Three goals in seven minutes from Jamie Easton, Liam Houlahan and Joshua Squires won the game for Tots. Ian Williams scored the fourth half way through the second half. The result also leaves Upton with some work to do in 2024.
Division two is just as close as there are five teams within fouir points of each other. At the top with the biggest score of the season so far sit Bovey Tracey who put 15 goals past Ipplepen Athletic. Alistair Chuchuk scored five, Christian Fleet three, Matt Churchill and Finn Wolfe with two apiece and Thomas Mudge and Liam Payne scoring singles.
East Allington United 2nds remain in second place thanks to a 5-0l win at home to Paignton Villa 2nds, Joe Kirby (two), Daniel Bastin Lee Prestage and Aiden Cocoran were all on the scoresheet. Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds also stay in contention, causing double misery for Paignton Saints with a 4-2 win at Chuley Road. Jayden Bond Nathen Cole Frank Ornyik and Deven Webb did the damage against pre season favourites who last season were playing in the Rremier.
There were no games in Three but in the top of the table game in the Torbay Clearance Services Division Four Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds just got the better of Chudleigh Athletic 2nds, a 2-1 win for the Rams with both goals coming courtesy of Ashton Hogarth keeps them top for Christmas with the visitors now four points behind in second place.
The Torbay Clearance Services League now has a winter break. The league management committee wish all of our friends, supporters and readers a very happy Christmas and a healthy 2024. South Devon League fixtures are back on Saturday January 6.