Villa and Spurs look to the final furlong

It may have been Grand National Day but it was also the day that the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League Premier Division became a two-horse race.

With just three games to play, Ilsington Villa are six points clear after their 2-1 win at East Allington United thanks to a Dan Langford double strike, the result leaves the Pirates with work to do, especially after Beesands Rovers won at Waldon Athletic by the only goal of the game from Loius Brace.

The Bees are now only four points behind their South Hams neighbours with six games to play, of which two of them are against, you guessed it, East Allington. Beesands have won three of their last four games, only losing by the odd goal in three to Newton Abbot Spurs, who moved into third place with a 2-1 victory at Kingsteignton Athletic in a busy game for the referee.

On target for Spurs were Louis Green, Callum Noyce and Ricco Moranzonie, prior to seeing red. Spurs are 11 points off the lead but have four games in hand. The team currently sitting in second spot are Newton Abbot 66, they had a comfortable 4-1 win over bottom club Elburton Villa with goals from Stijn Brussen and a Carl Foskett hat-trick, which leaves them six points off the lead but they only have two games left to play.

The only other game in the Premier Division was at Coach Road, where Paignton Saints and Totnes and Dartington shared four goals and remain safe in mid-table.

True Blues slip up in the cup

In Division One, Phoenix remain unbeaten in the league and a 5-1 home win versus Brixham Town with goals from Grant Craven, David Moore (2) and a loop over the ‘keeper from the halfway line got Ashley White on the scoresheet after Town had taken the lead.

Watcombe Wanderers eased their own relegation worries with a 3-0 win at Homers Heath against a Buckland Athletic team who are also safe in mid-table. On target for the Greens were Laurence Macloud, Ollie Dowell and Zach Steele.

In the division’s Dartmouth Cup, all three games produced eyebrow-raising results, The top two met at Millenium pitches and it was Windmill who inflicted the first loss of the season for True Blues in a pulsating game, 3-1 was the final score and sets Windmill up for another derby semi-final tie against Ivybridge Town, who made it through courtesy of a penalty shoot-out versus Watts Blake Bearne after the game ended 2-2 after extra time.

Paignton Villa produced one of the results of the day in beating Bovey Tracey 2-1 in the other quarter final in another entertaining game that could have gone either way but two goals from Sam Woodcock in his tenth season with Villa made the difference and they can look forward to hosting Phoenix in a semi-final to savour.

Barton remain in control

In Division Two, Barton Athletic played their penultimate game of the season and they were made to work for the points by bottom team Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds, a 3-2 win for the Torquay side keeps them 18 points clear of their main challengers Mount Gould, who moved back into second place with a routine 7-1 win at Newton Rovers. Bentley Alcantara and Liam Manchip both scored hat-tricks and there was enough time for Jack Trigger to add a single for the Mounties, who have nine games in hand.

Liverton United remain serious challengers as well, a 4-1 win versus East Allington United 2nds, whose heads must have been on their upcoming cup final against Liverton’s 2nd team certainly puts a dent in the promotion ambitions of the South Hams team but keeps Livvy’s hopes alive, they are 23 points behind Barton with eight games in hand.

It’s fair to say that Mount Gould and Liverton may well decide who goes up to Division One next season once Barton have kicked the last ball in their season.

Down at the bottom, Upton Athletic had a great result in drawing 1-1 at Armada Park against Paignton Villa 2nds, the result holds Villa back from a top three place and leaves the Torquay side four points clear of the drop zone.

Drake stay on course

With just two games left to play, Drake FC remain two points ahead of favourites Ashburton following a 5-0 win at Waldon Athletic 2nds with goals from Loius George, Ben Barrowdale, Christian Moss and Kacper Gorceki, but the story does not end with the result. This was a bad-tempered game where the home team had three players sent off, the first after just 17 minutes, the visitors also had a player red carded.

If you consider the standard penalty for a red card is a three-match ban and a £55 fine, bearing in mind that the home team only have two games to play, it effectively means that three players ended their season this week, no doubt leaving the club to sort out the fines.  

Ashburton picked up another three points in a close 3-2 home win versus A38 neighbours South Brent, Brandon Hext, James Martin and Kameron Pouladdej were the target men for the Ashes, who can afford to lose one of their remaining five games and still win the title.

That is because Elburton Villa 3rds, who won 3-1 at Brixham Town reserves also have five games to play but they are four points behind the Ashes.

Also worthy of a shout out this week are Newton Abbot 66 reserves, who won 1-0 at Totnes and Dartington reserves courtesy of a Cody Monk strike. Whilst they sit in eight place and are safe from relegation and will not be challenging for honours, the last time they lost a league game was September 21 against today’s opponents, who ran out 6-1 winners, that’s a long unbeaten run that went under the radar, so well done to Sixes reserves.

The only other game played in Division Three was at Paignton Saints 3rds, where Fred Hewings Cup finalists Liverton United warmed up for their big day out with an 8-1 victory that also moves them away from the bottom two, Oliver Kendall scored a hat trick, Lee Chaimberlain, Aaron Underhill, Jacob Snell and Troy Riley scored singles and super sub Harvey Kendall added two goals to complete the rout

Kingskerswell 100% Blue

Congratulations to Kingskerwell, who ended their league season with a full house and now have the League Cup final to look forward to on Thursday, April 17. A 4-0 home win against Newton Rovers reserves was enough for Kerswell to produce a perfect first season back in the Torbay Clearance Services League since disbanding a few years ago, the end result was a goal difference of 116 and in 18 games, they only conceded 11 goals, giving them an average scoreline of seven and conceding one goal in every other game.

Kingsbridge and Kellaton United and Barton Athletic 2nds completed their season with a 2-2 draw that leaves them in 9th and 10th, and Broadhempston also played their final game of this term, which started with them winning their first three games to then go on a losing run of nine games. Broads lost 4-2 at Chudleigh Athletic 2nds, who still have one game to play, which is my game of the week on Saturday, April 12 (details below).

Games to catch this week

Who does not like a Friday night under lights?

The South Devon Leagues first cup final of the season is on Friday, April 11 at Newton Rec with a 7pm KO. The Fred Hewings Cup final is the knockout competition for reserve teams only and this season it will be contested by East Allington 2nds (Div 2) and Liverton 2nds (Div 3). It should be a great game as there are goals in both teams with East Allington sharing the second highest goals scored in Division Two and both teams concede over two goals a game, so expect end to end play. A full bar and food service will be available together with all the comforts the Rec has to offer.

On Saturday, April 12, the Torbay Clearance Services Premier Division has what has become a classic fixture in the calendar at Broadpark, where Kingsteignton Athletic clash with Ilsington Villa at 2.30pm.

In Division One, there are two relegation six pointers on offer, Paignton Villa clash with Watcombe Wanderers in a game that the Greens will not want to lose and over at Ashburton Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds welcome Brixham Town in what could be a tense affair.

At the top of this division, Bovey Tracey travel to Millbay Park to meet True Blues in what could be a defining moment for the Moorlanders in their quest for promotion.

There is also a relegation six-pointer in Division Two at Ipplepen, where the home team come up against an Upton Athletic side, who sit just four points above the Pens and will want to prevent a second relegation in two seasons.

But my game of the day is in Division Four at Chudleigh Athletic, where the 2nd team play their last game of the season at home to Templar Way. Who would have thought that back in August when the league kicked off, the promotion places would be settled with the last game of the season and here we are.

The maths are simple for one of the leagues new teams who made the switch from Sunday league to Saturday league and it’s fair to say they have enjoyed the ride. Win the game and Templar get the runners-up spot to put alongside their League Cup final.

Any sort of result for fourth-placed Chudleigh could do their neighbours at Teign Village a favour should they win at mid-table Newton Rovers 2nds, as it would be Village that leapfrog Templar into 2nd place, All I can say is good luck to both teams and thank you for making Division Four a great competition.

Enjoy your grassroots football.