Foskett takes Route 66 to the league summit

In the game of the day at the top of the Premier Division in the Torbay Clearance Services-South Devon Football League, a Carl Foskett double strike sent Newton Abbot 66 back to the top with a fine 2-1 home win against Ilsington Villa, who were reduced to ten players for the last 30 minutes.

Foskett’s double included a penalty on the hour and Ilsington’s goal was scored by Jack Dixon in stoppage time. The result puts 66 just o ne point ahead of Villa and Waldon Athletic, who were surprisingly beaten by 5 goals to 2 at Paignton Saints. The Saints revival was helped by goals from Wilden, Creswell-Cluer, Powell and Veysey.

There is then a six-point gap to a group of four teams, one of which is Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds, who were on cup duty and have three games in hand. They enjoyed a comfortable Herald Cup win versus Beesands Rovers, scoring six goals without reply.

Kingsteignton Athletic were also on cup duty and were made to work hard for their 3-2 victory at Division One side Buckland Athletic. Strikes from Kelsey Leech, Tom Reeves and Mark Voisey were enough to put the Rams in the hat for round three.

Buckfastleigh Rangers also had to work hard for the points at home to Totnes and Dartington. It took a Steve Sutton double strike to shade the game by 2 goals to 1 to move them into fifth place, and they continue to be a difficult team to beat.

In Division One, Brixham Town produced a battling display to come home from Plymouth True Blues with a well-earned point. Joe Kelly and Ben Russell scored the all-important goals, as  Town were in front twice in the game and they took full advantage of True Blues twice being reduced via the sin bin.

The point moves Brixham out of the bottom three and keeps True Blues one point clear of Phoenix at the top, who have two games in hand.

Windmill remain in fourth place following a 3-2 win at lowly Ivybridge town. A Brodie Simpson double and a single from Miles Hunt won the points for the Plymouth side, who, despite a points deduction, are going to be there or thereabouts come May.

Watts Blake Bearne won the mid-table battle with Paignton Villa by 4 goals to 3, putting a dent in Villa’s ambitions for a top four spot.

In Division Two, none of the top three played, so Barton Athletic remain nine points clear of Mount Gould, who have five games in hand.

At the bottom, Newton Rovers moved away from the relegation places with a 2-1 win over Harbertonford and Upton Athletic enjoyed a 4-2 triumph over bottom club Ipplepen Athletic at Armada Park.

Liverton United and Paignton Villa reserves shared a 1-1 draw to leave them in fourth and fifth place in a division where the top two spots look nailed on, but in which order?

Division Three continues to produce some great football, Ashburton and Stoke Gabriel TP are the in-form teams and both won again. The Ashes put in a performance in the A38 derby at South Brent, winning 2-0 thanks to a Tom Arnold double and Stoke overcame a strong Waldon Athletic reserve team by 2 goals to 1, Daniel Trezise and Ian Sloman were the target-men for the Bees.

Kingsteington Athletic 2nds lost a bit more ground on the leaders, leaving the young Rams six points off second with a game in hand.

A mention must also go to Division Three side Elburton Villa 3rds, who knocked the favourites from Division One, Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds, out of the Fred Hewings cup out at the quarter final stage. A brilliant 5-2 victory against a Spurs team that finished the game with less players than they started.

This result completes a semi-final line up of Elburton Villa 3rds, Watcombe Wanderers 2nds, East Allington United 2nds and Liverton United or Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds.

In Division Four, Kingskerswell won again and move eight points clear at the top and look unstoppable. A 3-0 win over bottom side Barton Athletic, who also finished with ten players, keeps them on course for a perfect first season back in the SDFL.

The real battle is going on behind them with Templar Way, Teign Village and Chudleigh Athletic 2nds all looking at that the runners-up spot.

Teign Village had a free weekend but Templar Way and Chudleigh both lost ground by drawing their games at Newton Rovers 2nds and Paignton Villa 3rds. There is then a points gap of nine that separates the bottom six teams with only six points between them, so it’s very much a division split in two.

Games to catch on Saturday, January 18 and this week there is one for each division.

Premier: Waldon Athletic v East Allington United. Can the wheels be put back on the Waldon bus before the Pirates come to Torquay?

Division One: Brixham Town v Windmill. Can Town continue to take points from Plymouth teams?

Division Two: Paignton Villa 2nds v Watcombe Wanderers 2nds. Both need to win to stay in contention.

Division Three: Elburton Villa 3rds v Stoke Gabriel TP. This will be Stoke’s toughest test yet and Villa need to win this one.

Division Four: Chudleigh Athletic 2nds v Barton Athletic 2nds. A home win is vital to stay within touching distance of the top three.