Fighting for football survival in brutal conditions across South Devon

The wet weather once again took its toll on South Devon’s grassroots football fixtures on a weekend where just ten games survived and nine of them having an impact on the teams in the bottom half of the divisions.

In the Premier Division, four of the bottom five teams played and two of them picked up valuable survival points. Totnes and Dartington gave up the lead at home to East Allington United in a 2-1 loss and had many supporters in disbelief that they were watching a relegation battle.

Scott Troth opened the scoring for Tots, only for Dan Bowles and Rob Tapper to hit the target for the Pirates. The win puts East Allington fifth from bottom but only but points from third. Tots, however, are now four points from safety and just need a win to boost confidence.

They are level on points at the bottom with Buckfastleigh Rangers, who cannot buy a win at the moment. They were level at the break in the fixture at in-form Chudleigh Athletic but two late goals sealed a priceless victory for the home team.

George Davidson and Gavin Hammon scored the opening three goals but those late winners came from Gavin and Jason Lake to move the clarets four points clear and above Kingsteignton Athletic, who had the day off.

There were no league games played in Division One, so it’s as you were with Brixham Town five points clear at the top. Pre-season favourites Bovey Tracey and Mount Gould are some way behind but with enough games in hand and just cast your mind back to last season, when Mount Gould were at one stage 23 points behind and then won eight games in a row.

Division Two had three games that went ahead and down at the bottom, Upton Athletic were made to suffer again, an 8-1 loss at the hands of East Allington 2nds. Lee Prestige, Sam Quick, Faical Benazeza and Harley Witham were all on target for the home team.

The result leaves Upton joint bottom with Newton Rovers, who they play next Saturday at Armada Park.

Ivybridge Town were certainly made to work for the points in a ten-goal thriller at Coach Road, the 6 – 4 victory for the Bridgers moves them into second place above game-less Babbacombe Corries, who may be two points behind but sit with three games in hand.

Paignton Villa 2nds continue to impress and a 5-2 win at home to Watcombe Wanderers 2nds puts them into fourth place and just one game from completing half of their fixtures.

Division Three could only offer one league game and Newton Abbot 66 2nds dropped a couple of points in their quest to hang on to the coat-tails of Galmpton and Kingskerswell at the top.

They had to settle for a 2-2 draw against a good Kingsteignton Athletic 2nd team in a squelchy affair at Osborne Park, Jordan Pidwell and Freddie Hulance were on target for the home team. The result leaves Sixes four points behind with no games in hand.

In Division Four, Chudleigh Athletic 2nds moved nine points clear of second-placed Teign Village with a thumping 10-1 victory at Broadhempston United. Jack Salmons scored five and Jack Wills notched a hat-trick. Charley Forey also found the back of the net in the comprehensive win that sends out that catch us if you can message.

Waldon Athletic 3rds may only have played four league games are in recovery mode and a 5-1 win versus bottom club Newton Rovers 2nds will give them some confidence to remain unbeaten. Leo Driscoll, Elliot Glasser, Marley Isaac and Kaylan Kurup were all on target for the Torquay-based team.

In the replayed Herald Cup fixture, Lakeside Athletic won the derby game versus Mount Gould by 2 goals to 1 in fiercely contested game that did not end with the same number of players that started.

There was a big attendance at the Enclosure for a game that was described as very entertaining. Lakeside go into the hat for the next round, which will be drawn on Monday, December 15, and they will also be joined by Bovey Tracey, who won their local derby against Liverton Utd by 3 goals to nil, Sam Barnes, Alistair Chuchuk and Ben Goble were on target for Bovey.

In the County Premier Cup, Newton 66 went out at the hands of Plymouth Marjon from step 7, leaving Newton Abbot Spurs and Ilsington Villa carrying the SDFL flag into the last eight and those games are on January 16.

Safely through in the Senior Cup are WBB, who won a penalty shootout against Exeter opposition in City Raiders, but Buckland Athletic had a long trip home following a 5-1 loss at South Zeal.

In the Intermediate Cup, favourites Kingskerswell are through after a 7-2 win versus Exeter side Uplowman. They are joined by South Brent, who had a walkover against Heavitree, and finally Teign Village are also through following a 4-2 home win versus Exeter University 7th team - a big well done to the club secretary that looks after seven teams, that must be a part-time job or a dissertation.

In the Premier Division this weekend and the game of the day should be at Newton Rec, where Spurs 2nds face a Windmill team who remain unbeaten this season and with a 2.30 kick off should draw a decent crowd.

For those looking for a game in the west, try Mount Gould, who will have their toughest league test when Bovey Tracey visit the Enclosure looking for three points in their quest for promotion. Paignton Villa will be hoping to keep their good form going when Watcombe Wanderers are the visitors to South Devon College.

In Division Two, the delayed relegation battle takes place at Armada Park, where Upton Athletic face Newton Rovers in a game that neither wants to lose and its 2nd versus 3rd at Long Lane, where Babbacombe Corries will welcome Ivybridge Town.

In Division Three, it’s also 2nd versus 3rd at Osborne Park, where the visitors Galmpton United will be looking to make this division a two-horse race if they beat Newton Abbot 66 2nds and sparks could fly at Kingskerswell when Liverton 2nds visit the bowl.

In Division Four, Bere Alston United will need to leave home early for their trip to Brixham Town 2nds in a 3rd versus 4th game that will be worth a watch.

Enjoy your grassroots football.