Newton 66 spring huge surprise to win Herald Cup

In the flagship fixture for the South Devon Football League calendar, the Herald Cup Final was played on Friday evening at Stoke Gabriel TP, where the volunteers at the host club certainly know how to put on a show and the 300 plus spectators and the teams and their officials were well looked after.

Newton Abbot 66 went into the game as underdogs, a poor run of form in their league fixtures has caused them to be in the bottom half of the Premier Division.

Whilst many teams have players out with injuries at this time of the season, 66 seem to have suffered more than most and it did not go unnoticed that long serving 66 player Marc Graham was named as a sub.

For those of you who do not know Marc, in age years he is north of 49 and south of 51, but what an achievement to be good enough to part of the team on the biggest game in the season.

For Ilsington Villa, they came into the game full of confidence, only last Saturday they were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in their history, having only been beaten once this term and had already beaten their opponents twice in the league.

With eight of the top 18 goalscorers in the Premier Division playing in the final, the stage was set for a goalfest, but Newton Abbot 66 did not read the script and the homework and tactics that were put into place by Ian and Kurt certainly played a part in the outcome.

The game itself was by no means a classic but there were lots of thrilling moments at both ends but none were on target. It was noticeable that 66 must have felt that the main threat was going to be Jack Langford, so they put a man on him for the whole game and he was simply not given any time on the few occasions that he got the ball.

The first main talking point on the sidelines was when Ilsington Villa had to replace their goalkeeper Tom Watson through injury and, despite having a substitute ‘keeper named on the team sheet, they replaced him with top scorer Daniel Langford.

You could see the disbelief and delight from the 66 bench. It was not until the 67th minute that the breakthough came but it was well worth the wait, an innocuous cross from Ashley Dove fell a bit short for the only 66 forward in the penalty box and he was surrounded by four defenders.

Despite the attention, Tom Lowe managed to chest it away from the defenders and volley the ball into the top of the net to send the team into the corner to celebrate and the travelling 66ers up on the patio to possibly spill their drinks during the celebration.

Within 20 seconds of the restart, Ilsington Villa had their best chance of the game when Jamie Beer really should have equalised but Jack Callum in the 66 goal made him shoot wide.

In the last 20 minutes, there were seven substitutions made in an attempt to freshen things up for Villa and to slow things down for 66, a team that have been here many times before and are becoming experts at closing down cup games when they are one goal in front.

66 knew what they had to do against all odds to win the Herald cup for the first time in 24 years and I am told the celebrations continued until 4am. Big congratulations to Newton Abbot 66.

As the midweek games ramp up for most clubs in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League and some are having to play twice, as well as Saturday, to get their season complete, squads of players are sure to be used.

In Division One, Newton Abbot Spurs continue to turn their games in hand into points. A 10-2 win over Babbacombe Corries moved them into fourth place, seven points behind with three games in hand.

Kye Drinkwater, Joe Bushin and Jack Upshire got two goals each and there were singles from Ross Beer, Aiden Blackie, Callum Noyce and Jason Jones. The result also leaves Corries perilously close to the drop.

In Division Three, Watcombe Wanderers 2nds had a great result at in-form Totnes and Dartington 2nds, a 4-1 win puts them nine points clear with four games to play and, depending on results this weekend, they could clinch the title next week. Casey Cooper, Keiron Dale, Jamie Smith and Kye Graham were on target for the Greens.

Wednesday night in the Premier Division focused on the relegation battle. Chudleigh Athletic’s 3-1 victory over WBB guarantees the Clarets Premier Division football next season and confirms that both Brixham AFC and WBB will be playing in Division One.

Brixham, who have a very young team, will no doubt benefit from winning more games next season and hopefully return to the Premier Division, as some at the club are keen on pyramid football for the reserves while the first team consolidate at step 5.

As for WBB, it has been a nightmare season for manager Andy Moore, who has worked miracles just to put a team out and I am sure that once he takes a break and presses the reset button, they will be a force in a tough Division One.

Buckfastleigh Rangers moved into second place with just two games to play. A 2-1 win over Waldon Athletic means that one of three teams could clinch the runners-up spot, which will go to the wire.

With the Premier Division title wrapped up, the race for the runners-up spot will go to the wire for four teams. Kingsteignton Athletic, who lost out to a resurgent Beesands Rovers 3-1, remain third.

Buckfastleigh Rangers won 2-1 at home to Chudleigh Athletic, thanks to a brace from Steve Sutton, and remain in second place. Morley Rangers, who still have four games to fit in, remain fourth but they have not played for a few weeks.

Elburton Villa, who are in top form with enough games in hand to nick second place, had the stand-out result of the week in the league by winning at WBB by 11 goals to 6. I wonder if both teams forgot to take a keeper!

Division One is also going to the wire. Paignton Saints returned to pole position with a 9-0 win at Harbertonford. In the big game between the top two, Totnes and Dartington and Ivybridge Town shared the points in a thrilling 2-2 draw, the Ivys were 2-0 up at one point but let the visitors back into the game.

Newton Abbot Spurs seem to be using all playing resources available to them as they continue to chip away at those games in hand. Callum Noyce, who is one of the top goalscorers in the football pyramid at step 6, banged in four goals to add to the three he scored last week, and leaves them six points behind with three games in hand but in fourth place.

On May 23, Ivybridge Town visit Newton Abbot Spurs in a game that will decide promotion.

At the bottom, Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds are already relegated and will be joined by Babbacombe Corries who have two games to play or Upton Athletic, who have finished their fixtures and will be watching Corries results to see if they can get the one point needed to survive the drop.

Division Two is almost complete, with Bovey Tracey as champions and Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds runners-up. Spurs cannot be promoted unless their 2nds win promotion out of Division One, which they won’t know for two weeks. Paignton Saints will finish a disappointing third but will be hoping Spurs 2nds slip up in Division One.

At the bottom, Brixham Town 2nds will return to Division Three after volunteering to fill a vacancy last season and will be joined by Waldon Athletic 2nds unless Ipplepen Athletic concede more than 15 goals in their last two games.

The promotion race in Division Three is now between three teams. Watcombe Wanderers, who won the Devon Intermediate cup this week by beating Railway FC from Exeter 3-2, remain at the top and need four points from four games to clinch the title. Should they not get the required number of points, Liverton Utd or Ashburton could win the division.

South Brent are also in the race for second place but don’t have enough games for the points needed to top the division.

At the bottom, Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd will have a better season in Division Four and will be joined by either Paignton Saints 3rds or Teign Village, who need three points from two remaining games to stay in this division and condemn Saints to Division Four. Unfortunately for them, they have Watcombe and Ashburton to play.

Division Four has also been a great competition this season and the top spot could go either to Liverton Utd 2nds or Elburton Villa 3rds, both had good wins on Saturday. Liverton won 4-1 at Kingsteignton Athletic, who themselves have had a great season and will get a top four place.

Villa, who won 5-1 at Newton Rovers, remain in second place, seven points behind with three games in hand, so they will need to win them all.

Drake FC have also had a great season in their first venture into adult football. Whilst they did not play on Saturday, they need six points from three remaining games to secure third place in what has been a very competitive competition.