Chudleigh take step toward top-flight safety

In the Premier Division of the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon League, Chudleigh Athletic took a giant step in their bid to retain top division status with a 4 – 3 victory at Brixham AFC.

With only half of the fixtures going ahead due to the wet grounds, the Maroons had to work hard on a treacle pitch to secure the points. Most relegation battles are feisty affairs and this one lived up to what was expected and provided the referee with a busy afternoon.

Andy Hawkings scored a hat-trick for the home team but four goals for the visitors proved enough to put them five points clear of Brixham and third from bottom.

The only other Premier game was in the Belli Cup at Windmill Hill, where Waldon Athletic welcomed league leaders Ilsington Villa in what promised to be a close game.

Daniel Langford put the visitors ahead but Waldon continued to probe, and in the 86th minute, got their just reward thanks to a Kyle Doughty strike, taking the game into extra time. With penalties looming, the Waldon manager sent on Jacob Knapman and within two minutes he had put the home team in front and they managed to see off the favourites to secure a place in the semi-finals.

In Division One, Brixham Town and Buckland Athletic 2nds had good wins to move up the table. Brixham are now fifth, level on points with Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds after an 8 – 3 win at home to Babbacombe Corries, and Buckland Athletic moved clear of the drop zone with a tight 3 – 2 win at home to Watcombe Wanderers.

In the Dartmouth Cup, the knockout competition for teams in this division Paignton Villa and Harbertonford progressed to the semi-final with good wins over Totnes and Dartington and Buckfstleigh Rangers 2nds.

With some big guns still in this cup, these two would be delighted to draw each other in the semi-finals.

Paignton Saints 2nds have reached the final of the Fred Hewings Cup thanks to a 3 – 2 win at Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds. This is the knockout competition for reserve teams in the Torbay Clearance Services League and they will play the winners of Watcombe Wanderers 2nds and Totnes and Dartington 2nds who meet this week.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Bovey Tracey and Newton Spurs 3rds reached the semi-finals of the Lidstone Cup. For Bovey, it was courtesy of a penalty shootout at Paignton Villa 2nds, James Lockwood and Ben Moyle had kept the score level in normal time before both teams missed the majority of their spot kicks.

Loius Green was the hero for Spurs once again, as they dispatched a strong East Allington 2nd team, 2 – 1. Rob Hutchings was on target for the Pirates but it was not enough, as Spurs set themselves up for a league and cup double.

In Division Three, Stoke Gabriel TP moved up three places with a 7 – 1 win at Teign Village. Adam Blackburn (3) and Max Prestwood (2), with singles from Paul Christie and Ian Sloman secured a valuable three points for the Railwaymen, who had 16 year-old goalkeeper Callum Yeates making his senior debut for the club.

Ashburton are now joint second after their 5 - 0 win at Waldon Athletic 3rds, Watcombe Wanderers 2nds remain six points clear in this division but did manage to reach a County Cup final by winning 8 – 3 against South brent in a semi-final that was played at Coach Road.

Simon Ross and Adam Townsend got two each and singles from Jamie Smith, Jack White, Harvey Hickman and Jamie Macyntyre were enough to put the Greens into the final. The South Devon League now has three teams in two of the major adult County Cup finals, which just shows how strong grassroots football is in this part of Devon.

In Division Four, Liverton United continue to make progress. A 9 - 0 demolition of Paignton Villa 3rds, with seven different goal scorers, moved them into third place and just one point behind Drake, who won 4 – 2 at Broadhempston United in the Les Bishop Cup.

Elburton Villa 3rds are also making good progress. A 3 – 1 win at Barton Athletic 2nds moved them into fifth place, 11 points off the lead but with a massive nine games in hand, so they will definitely be playing midweek games in April and May.

Games to catch this week in the Torbay Clearance Services League include the delayed Herald Cup game at Osborne Park, where Division Three side South Brent take on Premier Division Newton Abbot 66.

There are two cup games in Division One worth a watch. Buckland Athletic host Brixham Town and Ivybridge Town take on Paignton Saints at Erme Valley.

The top two in Division Three meet at Long Lane, where the 2nd teams from Watcombe Wanderers and Totnes and Dartington meet in the Divisional Cup, and finally in Division Four, Liverton 2nds take on Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds at Broad Park in their Divisional Cup, which all kick-off at 2pm.