TCS South Devon Football League: Brixham celebrate Lidstone Cup victory

TCS South Devon Football League by Neil Hocking

Torbay will host the prestigious Herald Cup final tomorrow (Friday, May 19) with holders Kingsteignton Athletic taking on fellow Teignbridge side Newton Abbot '66 at the Kia Speedwell ground, home of Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police.

Torbay Clearance Services SDFL Premier Division leaders Kingsteignton have lost their aura of invincibility over the last week, having lost two games on the spin.

Despite their league game against Brixham AFC Reserves being switched to their home ground of Broadpark, the Rams lost their first game of the season to the Fisherman last Wednesday night. A win would have seen them seal the league title, but two goals from Kieran Parkin and an Alex Harding strike saw Brixham scupper that possibility. Even another Dan Rankin brace couldn't prevent a 3-2 loss for Steve Workman's side.

The disappointment mounted on Saturday as Kingsteignton crashed out of the Belli (Premier Division) Cup with a 2-1 reverse at home to local rivals Watts Blake Bearne, Jamie Orchard scoring twice.

In contrast, Ian Clenahan's Newton '66 are coming into form at just the right time, following up their emphatic semi-final victory over Ivybridge Town Reserves with a 3-0 midweek win at Waldon Athletic in the league, Daniel Martin with a double and Joe Clark-Farley also on target.

The Sixes, who last lifted the trophy in 2000, are looking for their fourth ever Cup win, while Kingsteignton can equal Upton Athletic's record haul of 10 trophies should Friday be their night. This year's competition is sponsored by Torbay Clearance Services.

There was more silverware for Torbay sides this week with Brixham Town lifting the Lidstone (Division Two) Cup, sponsored by Bettesworths, last Thursday evening - again at the Speedwell Kia - and Watcombe Wanderers Reserves clinching the Division Four title on Saturday afternoon.

Brixham settled quickly against a young Newton Abbot Spurs Third side, and went ahead just four minutes in, Ben Russell with the goal. Fifteen minutes later, a through ball from Jack Turak was coolly despatched by Town front man Paul Christie. When Christie popped up at the far post to put Town three up on the hour mark, the game looked done and dusted.

A red card for Spurs' Kameron Pouladdej, for two bookings in seven minutes, did little to suggest the finale that the crowd would be treated to. But as so often happens, the 10 men threw caution to the wind, and when Atkinson made a hash of a clearance, there was Aiden Blackie at the far post to pull one back from a tight angle with seven minutes left on the clock.

Consolation became real hope when Luis Green converted an 88th minute penalty, but despite some frenetic end-to-end action, Brixham Town held on to add the Lidstone Cup to the Ronald Cup they won, at the same venue, last season.

Upton Athletic were hoping to spring a surprise in the Dartmouth (Division One) Cup, sponsored by Francis Clark, the following night, by beating high-flying Ilsington Villa at the Foxhole Ground, Totnes. Those hopes were looking optimistic just 10 minutes in after Matt Warman scored twice in two minutes. Further goals from Warman, Jamie Beer and Jack Langford put Villa out of sight by half-time, although Shaun Johannesen did find the net for Athletic half way through the half.

Upton proved more resilient after the break, though Villa were still creating almost all of the chances. When Sam Lamburn caught Connor Gibson out with a long-range shot, 10 minutes after the restart, a way back looked plausible, if not likely, but Villa added some gloss to the scoreline with two goals in a minute, from sub George Harris and Dan Langford, in the games' dying stages.

A Simon Ross hat-trick, two goals from Lewis Cooper and strikes from Sean Brown and Corbyn Dumbreck saw Watcombe Wanderers sweep Broadhempston United aside and lift the Division Four title. A week earlier, Watcombe's first team wrapped up the Division Two title, making it a successful season for the Greens.

Division Three champions Waldon Athletic Reserves will also try and add to their trophy count when they take on East Allington United Reserves at Liverton United in Thursday's Fred Hewings Cup final, sponsored by Combined Roofing.

The Clarets will also be competing in the Ronald (Division Three) Cup final, against familiar foes Bovey Tracey Reserves, at Ipplepen Athletic a week later. That competition is sponsored by Coast and Country.

Bovey Reserves might fancy their chances after their superb performance and 4-1 win over Bickleigh in Saturday afternoon's A&S Paving Devon Intermediate Cup, keeping the county trophy in South Devon. Matt Churchill starred with a hat-trick, and Sam Harris converted a penalty for the Moorlanders.

Buckfastleigh Rangers are still in with a shout of silverware this season. A Luke Brown double in a 2-1 midweek win over Chudleigh Athletic kept them in the title race, and goals from Charlie Morgan and Ben Newton saw Rangers knock Belli Cup holders East Allington United out of the competition.

A Nik Garrett hat-trick for Chudleigh Athletic helped them to a convincing 6-1 win over Paignton Saints Reserves, dealing Saints' survival hopes a blow.