Lack of available referees already causing problems in local football

Referee shortage hits home again and it’s the clubs (and the referee secretary ) that suffer in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League.

It’s incredible to think about the games that have been played without a referee on the first two Saturdays.

Firstly, well done and thank you to those volunteers that stepped forward to take charge of league fixtures and the headache that the referee secretary is trying to manage is going to take more than paracetamol to solve.

The brutal fact is that there are just not enough referees to start with and when you add in the loss of officials that are taken to run lines in SWPL, Western league and now Southern league games, together with the early County Cup rounds, it is almost an impossible task to provide a referee for every game.

For any players out there thinking of taking up the whistle and moving over to the dark side, there are tremendous benefits to be had from being part of the SDFL referee group and I know that a number of referees are still actively involved in football some 30 years after they stopped playing.

I hear you say it all costs money to do the referees course, yes it does, but the SDFL have an assistance scheme to get you through without any initial outlay.

There are referee courses coming up in Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey, so if you are interested, please phone the referee secretary Phil Smith on 07974 672113 or Richard Mason 01626 332077 to become part of the South Devon football family.

Friday night football returned to the Premier Division courtesy of Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds, who opened up their defence of the title with a 1-1 draw against East Allington Utd in front of a decent crowd at the Rec. A point on the board for both teams in their opening game is probably a good point.

That leaves three teams to play their opening game and all three went ahead. Windmill made the short trip from Leigham across town to Millbay Park, where True Blues were waiting with a blue welcome.

In an epic encounter that was a credit to the SDFL, the points were shared in a 2-2 draw, Ben Woodman scored both goals for the Gers and Windmill replied through Louis Godwin and Alexander Photiou.

Chudleigh Athletic will be disappointed in coming away from Coach Road empty handed in their opening game versus Paignton Saints. A scrappy 1-0 win thanks to a Harvey Veysey tap-in, when John Emerys shot hit the post and ran along the line gets Saints off the mark having lost their opener last time out.

Waldon Athletic are struggling and their on-field woes continue, this time at the hands of Ilsington Villa, who scored eight without reply to stay level at the top with Kingsteignton Athletic, who won 5-2 at Totnes and Dartington a win that gives them a better start than last season.

Buckfastleigh Rangers have had a difficult start to the season and they could not have been relishing the visit of pre-season favourites Lakeside Athletic following their defeat on opening day. The Plymouth team won 8-1 to restore some hope that they will be there or thereabouts come May.

In Division One, there was a massive shock at Bovey Tracey, who lost 5-3 to newly-promoted Barton Ath in a cracking game, strikes from Zach Norton, Eden Cresswell Cluer, Oakley Hunt and Liam Walton won the first points of the season for the Torquay side with a very strong lineup of goalscorers.

It is Brixham Town who sit at the top after three games, a tight 2 -1 win over Paignton Villa has Shaun wondering if this could be his season. For Villa fans, all the photo shots of the league table from two weeks ago are a distant memory for now.

WBB have also had a good start to the season, a 4-0 win against a young Buckland Athletic side sees the Claymen keeping pace with the Fishermen at the top.

Beesands Rovers lost their first game of the season with a 4 -3 reverse at Watcombe Wanderers in a bruising affair, Sam Pyne, Jaimie Orchard, Oliver Dowell and Frazer Rudge were the target men for the Greens.

Mount Gould finally got their league season off to a flyer with a 5-0 win against local rivals Elburton Villa in front of a decent crowd, Bentley Alcantara was on target but it was a former True Blue, Ray Spear, who caught the eye with four goals.

In Division Two, Ivybridge Town are three points clear following a great 6-1 win at Erme Valley against an East Allington 2nd team who will win more than they lose, James Forrest and Oliver Tyson each scored twice and there were singles for Caleb Talliss and Travis Newton.

Paignton Villa 2nds have also had a good start to the new term, scoring 14 goals in three games, this time it was a narrow 3-2 win over Newton Rovers, who occupy bottom slot at the moment.

I said last week that Ashburton’s credentials would be tested and they rose to the visit of unbeaten Drake, a 7-2 win with strikes from James Martin, Alex Hambly, Kameron Pouladdje, Derek Cartmill and a hat-trick for Lee Grimshaw was more than good enough to get the Ashes on the points board.

Signal Box picked up their second win in three games, a 4-2 success at Manadon over Paignton Saints 2nds, who have yet to register any points, may seem like a formality but Saints put up a fight and made the Plymouth side work for the points. Paul Thompson, Harley Mitchell and a double for super sub Jordan Rickards keeps them well placed.

Babbacombe Corries are also unbeaten and a 5-0 win at Harbertonford, Curtis Marshall, Jordan Bradshaw and a Jack Cousins hat-trick gives Corries their best start for three seasons.

Upton Athletic picked up their first points of the season in a 5-2 home win versus Watcombe Wanderers 2nds in what is going to be a tight division with only Saints and Rovers pointless.

Division Three is definitely taking shape in line with the bookies favourites, Kingskerwell continue to win games and a 4-0 victory at South Brent puts them on maximum points from three games, while Galmpton United overcame a scare with a 5-4 win over a decent looking Totnes and Dartington side, who have yet to register a point.

Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds are keeping pace with the top two, a 7-0 win over Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds with double strikes from Ashley Hayworth, Jasper King and Ashton Hogarth sealed the deal for the young Rams.

Liverton United 2nds lost for the first time in a 4-2 win for Newton Abbot 66 2nds at Osbourne Park. Goals for Russell Ellis, Daniel Martin, Cody Monk and Will Poundall gets Sixes on the points board for the new term.

Templar Way finally found a way to win again with a 6-1 demolition of Ipplepen Athleic 2nds, thanks to Chris Bennett, Toto Whittle and Reuben Mantara, and I am sure they will win more than they lose again this season.

Only three games went ahead in Division Four and Teign Village join Chudleigh Athletic 2nds at the top, both with a 100% record.

Village had a comfortable 4-0 win at Barton Athletic 2nds at Barton Downs and Paignton Villa 3rds move into third place with a 2-0 win versus Newton Rovers 2nds.

The final game in this division was at Broadhempston where the home team welcomed Paignton Saints 3rds and Broads came out on top in an entertaining 5-4 victory. This was a game that went ahead without an official referee, so big thanks and well done to the volunteer who stepped up to take charge.

Games to catch this weekend.

The Premier Division offers the first Newton Abbot derby of the season at Osborne park, where 66 meet Spurs, and just down the road at Broadpark, Kingsteignton Athletic face East Allington United in what is normally a cracking game and Paignton Saints have an early opportunity to reply to their opening game defeat at Ilsington Villa when they meet for the second time in three weeks.

In Division One, Liverton United travel to Mount Gould, where they were the only team to take all six points last season and no doubt the Plymouth side will be looking to prevent a repeat of their previous meetings. Beesands Rovers and Paignton Villa have both had good starts to their seasons and it should be a great game when they meet at Loddiswell.

Division Two has a couple of stand-out fixtures. Ashburton face a Plymouth side for the second week running and again they will be tested when they meet Signal Box at Manadon, while East Allington United face a Drake FC team that will be looking to bounce back after defeat the last time out.

Division Three has two of the matches of the day, Galmpton United have a local derby versus Stoke Gabriel TP to look forward to and Kingskerswell will get a stern test at Liverton Utd.

In Division Four, Broadhempston United will need to fuel up the charabang for their outing to Bere Alston Utd where the team gets a big support and Teign Village will want to keep the momentum going when Newton Rovers take a trip up to the village.

Enjoy your grassroots football.