Six clubs locked in perfect Peninsula title race

A sense of normality returned to the South West Peninsula League in what is fast becoming an epic title race for East division glory.

Midweek mayhem saw Okehampton Argyle suffer just their second defeat of the campaign and, amazingly, it came at a Torrington side that had not won since the opening weekend of the season.

Welcoming Honiton Town to Simmons Park, the Okes must have feared another shock when they fell behind inside five minutes but the response was rapid and emphatic, Luke Mortimore flicking a lovely assist for Josh Coles to lob the visiting custodian.

Okehampton surged into the lead on 20 minutes, when the impressive Mortimore slotted a fine finish into the corner after a perfect assist from Daniel Koita. The decisive third was a goal worthy of winning any game, Luke Reynolds executing a superb long-range sidewinder to give the Honiton goalkeeper no chance.

Late gloss was added to the win with a simple tap-in from Luke Alden and three valuable points to keep the Okes in second place, just a point behind leaders Cullompton and with two games in hand.

Cullompton were another side on the wrong end of a midweek mauling in North Devon, as they were blitzed by a rampant Torridgeside. Incredibly, the T-Siders led 5-1 at half-time, finishing the game 6-2, with a hat-trick from Shaun Copp.

Cully got back on the winning trail with a tense 2-1 win over Newton Abbot Spurs on the weekend, a particularly important outcome against a Spurs’ side currently sitting in fourth.

Torridgeside took their goalscoring form to fifth-placed Elburton Villa on the weekend but, despite another cracking encounter, the North Devon club succumbed to a 5-3 loss.

Tyler Evans-Loude, Josh Parsons and Callum Hutchings notched for the T-Siders but they were unable to fully recover from a 4-0 half-time deficit. It was a big result for Villa, who were another title contender to suffer a surprise defeat in their previous outing, a 3-0 loss at lowly Axminster.

Sidmouth Town sit in third after a stodgy 2-1 victory over bottom club Bishops Lydeard. Keeping up the recent theme, Sidmouth were also looking to rediscover their form after a recent setback at a Bovey Tracey side who continued their improvement with a 5-2 win at Torrington, Lewis Perring scoring a hat-trick for Bovey.

The final team making up the top six, and probably the surprise package of the season so far, is Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police, who have not lost in two months and head into this weekend’s trip to Axminster protecting a four-game clean sheet streak.

Peninsula League leaders Cullompton face a tricky game at Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot Spurs will be favourites to pick up three points at Middlezoy Rovers but Sidmouth will need to be wary of a dangerously unpredictable visitor in the shape of Torridgeside.

Okehampton Argyle have a huge FA Vase clash at home to Thornbury on Saturday, while Elburton Villa are also in Vase action at Western League high-flyers Brixham AFC.