Leagues taking some shape in South Devon Football

With a smaller number of fixtures than usual in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League, one team that tried to stay ahead of the field was Newton Abbot 66 who agreed to play Chudliegh Athletic on Thursday evening under lights at Newton Rec.

Although they won by a goal to nil thanks to a single strike by Joe Clark Farley, 66 ran out of steam when they faced the current champions Ilsington Villa, who inflicted the first defeat of the season for the Sixes on Saturday, a 4-0 home win for the Moorlanders courtesy of strikes from George and Jack Dixon and another goal from Daniel Langford.

Victory keeps Villa in third place, three points behind 66 but with two games in hand. Also worthy of a shout-out are the volunteer groundstaff at Ilsington Villa who have turned a farmer’s field into an excellent playing surface and I have to say it was looking better than I have ever seen it in many years, so well done and thank you for what you do for grassroots football.

Waldon Athletic top the table and keep their 100% start to the season intact thanks to a 3-1 home win against Elburton Villa who are one of four teams yet to register a point, goals from Craig Duff and former Exeter City player Les Afful were more than enough to keep the Clarets in pole position.

Paignton Saints finally got their season up and running a 3-1 win at unbeaten Totnes and Dartington and the win was enough move them into a better place.

Buckfastleigh Rangers won a heavyweight battle at the Duckspond by trimming Kingsteignton Athletic by 3 goals to 2. The Rams, who are normally pre-season favourites for a top three place, are left pointless after three games and will need to turn their form around quickly if they are to challenge.

Division One now only has two teams with a 100% record following True Blues being held to a 1-1 draw by Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds and Brixham Town sharing a 2-2 game with WBB. Deven Webb was the Spurs hero to put the first dent in the ambitions of Plymouth True Blues in a division where any team can pull out a result.

Plymouth Pheonix came out on top in a 3-1 home win versus Watcombe Wanderers, strikes from Carlton Allen, Jamie Grinrod and Taylor Owen were enough for the league leaders to keep their perfect start to the SDFL journey.

Bovey Tracey, just three points behind with a game in hand, also had a great result, a 3-0 victory at much fancied Ivybridge Town keeping their 100% start to the season and Pheonix travel to Bovey on Saturday in what should be a terrific game.

Paignton Villa won for the second week running, a 6-1 win at Brixham puts them into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

The top of Division Two looks like a two-horse race at the moment, Barton Athletic had a comfortable 4-0 home win versus Newton Rovers and Mount Gould had the same scoreline at Armada Park against Babbacombe Corries. Bentley Alcantara scored a hat-trick and Jack Trigger added to the scoreline in favour of the Plymouth team.

Watcombe Wanderers 2nds moved into third place, also with a 4-0 win against Upton Athletic and they must be kicking themselves for giving up three points on the first week of the season. Just to remind you that here is one other team unbeaten in this division, East Allington Utd 2nds played their first league game this week and overcame Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds 5-2. Goals from Daniel Bastin, Lee Prestage, Ben Greeno and Tyler Littlejohns were enough for the Pirates. Paignton Villa 2nds also got their second win of the season in a remarkable 8-3 win at Ipplepen Athletic, which completed a good weekend for one of our clubs that runs three teams, as all three picked up points.

In Division Three, there is a new name in the top four, Ashburton are the first team to take points from Liverton Utd 2nds this season, a hard fought 2-1 win at Halford moves them into third place and well placed to make up for the disappointment of losing out in the promotion race by one point.

However, it is Drake FC who lead the division and opened up a three-point cushion for themselves with a 5-0 home win versus Waldon Athletic 2nds, goals from Louis George, Oliver Hodgson, Callum Thomas and Ashley Walker did the business for the Plymouth team.

Elburton Villa 3rds continue to impress in the Torbay Clearance Services League, a 9-1 win for the young team keeps them in second place and one of three teams in this division with a very impressive goal difference.

Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds remain in fourth place despite losing for the first time this season, a 2-1 home defeat by Stoke Gabriel TP 2nds thanks to a double strike by Adam Blackburn, which was enough to move the Railwaymen into fifth place with a game in hand.

At the bottom of the table, Brixham Town 2nds got off the mark but not in the way they would have wanted, South Brent were unable to raise a team for the game, so Town get the points and Brent lose three points and are trying to recover from the loss of their manager at the start of the season, hopefully Chris and Stuart can turn their fortunes around.

The game of the day in Division Four was between two of the new teams and both unbeaten in the league. On the day, Kingskerswell were too strong for Templar Way and in fielding a current Western League player and two players that were playing Premier League football last season with a mix of youth and experience were worth their 8–3 victory.

Josh Clarke put Kerswell in front on five minutes and added his second on 14 minutes, in between that Josh Cawsey got in on the act with a fine strike and when Alex Harding made it four on the half-hour it was game over.

Templar Way made a fight of the game in the second half by scoring three goals courtesy of Chris Bennett and Alfie Moffat but Kerswell had added another four to remain the only team in this division with a 100% start to the season.

Chudleigh Athletic 2nds top the division after a 5-0 home win against Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd, goals from Gavin and Jason Lake with a single from Charlie Forey good enough to keep them at the top, not bad having lost their opening game of the campaign.

Broadhempston Utd lost their perfect start to the season, they were beaten 5-1 by a Teign Village side who are already having a better season following relegation. Newton Rovers 2nds also remain well placed following a close 2-1 win at Barton Athletic 2nds, which sees them mid-table and full of confidence.

Interestingly, this game was refereed by the youngest referee available to the referee appointment secretary. At just 15 years of age, he has made the move into adult football and is getting rave reviews and high marks, who knows how far this young person can go in refereeing. Both teams are required to mark the referees out of 100, this is based on decision making, overall control and major decisions, marks should not be based on ‘he didn’t give us a penalty in the last minute’! The SDFL prides itself in having the highest referee marks of any adult league in the county which is 84, in promotion terms a good mark in the SWPL is 70.

At the other end of the age scale, the referee in the Templar Way v Kingskerswell game is 79 and still enjoying his time on the playing fields of South Devon and able to keep up with the game and make correct and major decisions when required to do so.

So, a big shout out to all South Devon League referees whatever your age and thank you for what you do for grassroots football.

Games to catch this Saturday, in the Premier League there is a battle at the wrong end of the division at Loddiswell, as Beesands Rovers face Chudleigh Athletic where a win for either team could have a big impact so early in the season.

In Division One you can take your pick: WBB v True Blues at Abbrook Park, Paignton Villa v Brixham Town always a great game between friends, Buckland Athletic 2nds travel west for the third game in a row, this time to Ivybridge Town, but my pick of the day is at Bovey Tracey who host Plymouth Pheonix in a top of the table match where at least one 100% record will go.

In Division Two, Mount Gould host Liverton Utd in Plymouth and Harbertonford travel to Barton Downs to face Barton Athletic.

In Division Three, Liverton Utd 2nds also have to travel to Plymouth to play Drake FC in a top of the table game. Last season, Livvy came out on top in both games, so I am sure that the Plymouth team will be looking to take the points this term.

And in Division Four, new boys Kingskerswell FC host Broadhempston Utd in a top of the table clash. All of these games kick off at 2.30pm. There is also a midweek game under the lights at Buckland Athletic 2nds where WBB are the visitors on Wednesday at 7.30pm.

Enjoy your grassroots football.