Devon clubs fighting for their league survival

It remains a difficult fight for survival for Devon clubs in the Southern League Premier Division. Tiverton Town gave their hopes a major boost with a battling 1-0 win at Poole Town, former Torquay United winger Niall Thompson notching the only goal on just four minutes.

Plymouth Parkway have shown a lot of improvement in recent weeks but they are still only three points clear of Poole, who occupy the fourth relegation place. Tom Dean had given Parkway the lead on Saturday but another former Gull in the shape of young striker Olaf Koszela scored twice to give Dorchester Town a 2-1 success at Bolitho Park.

Parkway will need a response at home to mid-table Gosport Borough this weekend, while Tivvy have a testing trip to promotion-chasing Walton & Hersham.

Bideford’s game at Cribbs was one of many that succumbed to the weather in Division One South but Exmouth Town did retain their fairly forlorn hope of catching runaway leaders Yate Town, as the East Devon club cruised to a 3-0 win over Bashley.

Willand Rovers v Shaftesbury was also postponed, while Tavistock were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Mousehole, a result that leaves Tavvy four points from safety. Willand and Bideford have more of a cushion above the bottom four. Willand welcome Tavvy on Saturday in a huge Devon derby.

Only four games were played in the Western League, and none involving Devon clubs, but the big news actually came a few days earlier, when the worrying form of Barnstaple Town continued with a 0-3 loss at home to Brixham, James Moxon, Kieran Parkin and Aaron Wellington the trio on target for the Fishermen.

It is now four straight defeats for Barum, a spell in which they have conceded 12 and scored zero. There has been unrest behind the scenes for some time and Barnstaple Town supporters have now set up a GoFundMe page to buy out chairman Bill Wilson.

Established by the club’s head of media, Steve Screech, the appeal is to raise £20k as part of an agreement with Wilson, who has pledged to release his shares in the club and write off the £300k loan to Barum.

The big game for Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police at home to leaders Sidmouth Town was also lost to the weather but one game played at Peninsula level was full of drama.

In the quarter-finals of the League Cup, North Devon club Torridgeside led 2-0 at Penzance, conquerors of Stoke in the previous round, when the clock reached 90 minutes. Incredibly, Penzance scored three goals in stoppage time to pinch a place in the last four in an astonishing finish to the game.