Ilsington win blockbuster cup tie in South Devon football

Despite a Saturday morning downpour, 11 games went ahead in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League and a big shout out to club volunteers who gave up their time to prepare the pitches for play.

There were a number of divisional cup games scheduled and in the Beli Cup, which is the knockout competition for Premier League teams, without doubt the game of the day featured the top two in the division.

Kingsteington Athletic and Ilsington Villa have only met a couple of times in recent years due to being in different divisions but the games have always been a great advert for grassroots football and this game did not disappoint.

In a pulsating first 45 minutes, Jason Jones was on target for the Rams just before the break and, having spent 10 minutes in the sin bin for dissent, Daniel Langford repaid his team-mates by scoring his 13th goal of the season in as many games and remains the team’s top striker.

At the other end of the goal scoring chart, Darren Rowe, making only his fourth start for the Moorlanders, scored his first goal of the season and it was enough to see Ilsington Villa progress into the next round.

Also safely through to round two are Brixham AFC, where a revival in fortunes seems to be happening. At 2-0 down, the home team looked to be going out of the cup but three second-half goals secured a 3-2 victory against a Beesands Rovers side that are going in the opposite direction. The goals from Callum Glew (2) and Noah Green will have put some smiles on the faces of the Wall Park faithful.

In the league, only one Premier Division game went ahead and East Allington took a giant step in their quest to remain in the top division by beating fellow relegation candidates Chudleigh Athletic by 4 goals to 1. Robbie Chalk, Martin Finneron, and brothers Ben and Rob Tapper secured the points for the Pirates, taking them 9 points clear of the bottom two who did not play.

In the Dartmouth Cup for teams in Division 1, there was a straightforward 5-0 win for Brixham Town against Upton Athletic at Armada Park, while at Long Lane, Totnes and Dartington, who seem to be getting better every week, had a tremendous result in dispatching a very strong Watcombe Wanderers team 5-2.

Joshua Squires and Jack Whitby got two goals each and James Blackshaw scored a single. Sam Pyne and Keiron Dale were on target for the greens but there is no doubt that the T and D team are a team to watch.

Only one league game was played and Paignton Villa moved into mid table by beating Harbertonford 3-2. Both these teams only have six league games to play but should be safe from the drop.

In Division 2, positions are starting to take shape at the top, unbeaten Bovey Tracey remain in fourth place but with games in hand thanks to a 4-2 win against a stubborn Barton Athletic at Barton Downs. Lewis Perring scored twice with Clifford Walters and Mathew Churchill getting singles that keep Bovey on course for consecutive promotions.

Also in the mix are pre-season favourites Paignton Saints 2nds, having been relegated from the Premier Division to make way for their first team. They are looking to be where they should be but, of course, that also depends on their first team moving up. A 5-0 win against bottom side Brixham Town 2nds has moved them into second place in a division where one point separates three teams.

In Division 3, only one game went ahead and Paignton Saints 3rds moved eight points clear of the drop in an 11-goal thriller on the 3g at South Devon College against Newton Abbot 66 2nds.

Game of the day in Division 4 went the way of Drake FC, who remain unbeaten and now five points clear at the top, after an 8-1 win over Broadhempston United team with Lewis Thomas scoring four and Callum Collings, Oliver Wells and Oliver Hodgson making short work of their Saturday afternoon. The other game played in this division was in the Les Bishop knockout competition, where Chudleigh Athletic 2nds progressed to round two with a 5-0 win at South Brent, Lloyd Hitchins, Gavin Lake, George Nicholls, Christian Williams and Dan Martin all got on the scoresheet for the Maroons.

My games to catch on Saturday, February 24 are in the Herald Cup at Osborne Park, where it is a potential banana skin for Newton Abbot 66 (Premier) versus South Brent (Div 3) or a relegation battle at Chudleigh where the visitors are WBB.

There is a South Hams derby at Loddiswell where families come together for Beesands Rovers versus East Allington Utd. In Division 1, two promotion candidates meet at Newton Rec where Spurs 2nds take on Ivybridge Town 2nds in a game that could open up a gap at the top and at the top of division 3, Totnes and Dartington 2nds welcome Liverton Utd, with only two points separating them at the moment.

The stand-out game in Division 4 is between the top two, Drake FC hosting Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds, and a home win could see silverware heading for Plymouth in their first season in the Torbay Clearance Services League.

There are so many great games to catch and spring is just around the corner, so why not get out in the last of the winter weather and support your local football team.