Villa book place in quarter-finals

The Herald Cup took centre stage this week and did not disappoint. Ilsington Villa came out on top of the all Premier League game against a Beesands Rovers side playing without their top goalscorer as he got himself sent off in the previous game, writes Alastair Muirden.
Jack and Daniel Langford were on target once again with supersub Jamie Soper getting in on the act for a 3-0 victory for the Moorlanders to book themselves a quarter final place.
The biggest shock of the day was at Brixham Town who dispatched Premier Division Waldon Athletic by 3 goals to 2 in a tight cup tie. Mark Griffiths rolled back the years with a hat trick for town, two of which came from the penalty spot.
Buckfastleigh Rangers had a comfortable afternoon in the A38 derby at Chudleigh Athletic booking their quarter final place in Torbay Clearance Services sponsored Herald Cup with a 4-0 victory.
Division three outfit Liverton United found a trip to Plymouth to take on Premier League Elburton Villa too much of an ask on a bitterly cold afternoon, the game ended 5 – 1 to the home team. The delayed second round game between division three side Stoke Gabriel TP and Premier strugglers East Allington Utd finally went ahead and the South Hams favourites will be delighted not only to get a win under their belts but to score six goals without reply and will be a big confidence boost for the pirates. The recommended game of the day was an absolute thriller, Division Two team Bovey Tracey 2nds hosted division one side Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds and it was the away team who just scraped into the next round with a 3 – 2 win. Goals from Alistair Nixon (2) and Joe Bushin were enough to see off a Bovey team that finished the game with nine players following two red cards. Totnes and Dartington also find themselves in the quarter final following a fine 2 – 1 win at Buckland Athletic reserves. Gamechanger Joshua Squires scored both goals for a Dartington team having a very good season.
Whilst the cup games were being played Kingsteignton Athletic continued their good run of results and moved into second place in the Premier and are now the main challengers to the current leaders, a 2-1 home win versus WBB with goals from Jason Jones and Thomas Reeves secured the points for the Rams. The wheels seem to have come off at Morley Rangers who following a 0-3 loss at Newton Abbot 66 slip to third and are now four points off the top.
Paignton Saints and Ivybridge Town go marching on at the top of One and are now nine points clear of Newton Abbot Spurs in 3rd place A 10-1 win for Saints against Babbacombe Corries and a 5-2 win for Ivys at Upton Athletic makes the top of One one happy reading for those teams. In the same division there was a shock result at Harbertonford who beat promotion chasers Watcombe Wanderers by 2 goals to 1 thanks to a double strike from Seb Looker. The result puts the Fords into mid-table and from where they were in terms of survival at the start of the season would seem to be a good place to be.
In Division Three Watcombe Wanderers 2nds have opened up a nine point lead thanks to a comfortable 6-1 win at Waldon Ath 3rds. Simon Ross scored four goals with Charlie Tout and Ellis Kendall adding singles for the Greens. Totnes and Dartington Reserves lead the chasing pack and had a good afternoon with a 2-1 home win against Newton Abbot 66 Reserves. There are now seven teams within six points of each other in what is a very close division.
The top of Four is heating up with the top four all picking up three points and making for a great competition. Kingsteignton Athletic Rreserves still lead the way with a 4-1 victory at Broadhempston United. Ashley Heyworth, Ashton Hogarth and Sam Arthurs got the goals for the Rams. Plymouth side Drake FC remain unbeaten but in second place following an 11-2 demolition job at Newton Rovers Reserves. Spike Nicholls, Lee Pink, Callum and Lewis Thomas scored the goals. Chudleigh Athletic Reserves are 3rd following a 7-1 win at long lane against Watcombe Wanderers 3rds and Liverton United 2nds remain in fourth place with a 9-0 win at home to Barton Athletic 2nds who must have had a double take at the team sheet when they saw the Liverton line up for a game in Division Four.
There are some great games that are worth a watch this coming Saturdayh January 20. Eight teams line up for the Fred Hewings Cup quarter finals, the knockout cup for reserve teams in the league. Watcombe Wanderers host Newton Abbot 66 at Long Lane. Brixham Town 2nds host Totnes and Dartington at JC park. Paignton Saints travel to Elburton Villa and Kingsteignton Athletic welcome Buckfastleigh Rangers. All have a 2pm KO.
In the league my games to catch are Buckland Athletic 2nds v Brixham Town 1st and Watcombe Wanderers v Ivybridge Town both in One with all four teams having a vested interest in promotion. These games have a 2.30 KO.