Brilliant Brixham victorious in title clash

It is no longer a flash in the pan, a glitch in the matrix, Brixham AFC are official title contenders after a superb victory at rivals Clevedon Town in the Jewson Western League.

The Fishermen have been riding high all season and reached the halfway stage in the campaign with a narrow lead over Barnstaple Town and Clevedon, but Saturday’s 3-2 victory in North Somerset, a first inflicted on Clevedon at home, was a statement success.

Brixham grabbed the lead through Charlie Johansen on the half-hour, calmly slotting home a penalty after Kieran Parkin had been felled in the box. The home side fought back with a leveller nine minutes into the second period but Brixham then took control.

Johansen was again the catalyst for a Fishermen surge, cutting inside for a low drive that proved too powerful for the home ‘keeper, and Brixham stretched their lead with a James Moxon strike ten minutes from time. Clevedon’s late consolation failed to spoil the Brixham party.

Buckland Athletic, meanwhile, have dropped off the pace after successive home defeats. A dramatic 3-4 reverse against Barnstaple in midweek was followed by a disappointing 2-1 loss to Portsihead Town on Saturday.

There was nothing to separate the two sides in a tight first half at Homers Heath but a sweet volley from the visitors broke the deadlock on 51 minutes.

Buckland boss Dan Hart rang the changes and it paid dividend 20 minutes from time, Sam Morcom’s corner was fired back into the danger area by Frankie Jones and Luke Forward got the vital touch. Unfortunately for Buckland, Portishead had the final answer, pinching victory two minutes from time.

The long unbeaten run for Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police finally came to an end with a 2-0 defeat at Penzance in the Peninsula League Cup.