In the top flight of the Torbay Clearance Services-South Devon Football League, Waldon Athletic remain three points clear of their next opponents Newton Abbot 66, a 2-0 win over an improving Paignton Saints with a Sean Finch double leaves the Clarets with just one loss this season and that was at Buckfastleigh Rangers.
They themselves are beginning to have a big say in any potential premier division honours, this week they beat Newton Abbot Spurs 3-1 at the Rec and inflicted only the second loss of the season for Spurs as they approach the halfway point in their league fixtures.
Ilsington Villa are probably where they expected to be at the moment, right in the mix thanks to a 3-0 win at Totnes and Dartington with goals from Jamie Beer, Jack Dixon and Darren Rowe, the Tots must be wondering what ever happened to the promising start they made to life in the top division.
Kingsteignton Athletic continued to be upwardly mobile and picked up their fifth win on the bounce, a 5-1 success at Elburton with a hat-trick from the returning Tom Reeves and singles from Dan Rankin and Mark Voisey sees the Rams up to fifth place and causing the top four to be checking their rear view mirrors and leave the home team searching for their first victory of the season.
Down at the bottom, Beesands Rovers and Chudleigh Athletic shared the points in an entertaining affair. Whilst managers Malcom and John will probably be happy to come away from this clash with a point, both teams need to find a win from somewhere to ease the pressure, Henry Buckpitt got both goals for the visitors and Adam Winkworth and Jake Aubert for Rovers.
The final game in the Premier Division saw Newton Abbot 66 hold on to second place, a solid 4-2 win over East Allington Utd thanks to strikes from Billy Snell, Daniel Martin, Liam Ashwell and Joe Clark Farley sets them up nicely for a six-pointer next week against Waldon Athletic and puts a dent in the ambitions of the Pirates, who drop to eighth but with three games in hand.
As a result of Senior County Cup games, Division One was reduced to just the one fixture. Paignton Villa continue to improve and a 2-0 win over local rivals Brixham Town has elevated them into fourth place, three points ahead of the Windmill. One of the benefits of playing on a 4g pitch is that this week Villa will have completed half of their league fixtures.
Brixham Town, who had a promising start to the campaign, need to get a win under their belts to get back on track and away from the wrong end of the table.
Division Two continues to surprise, Mount Gould may have returned to the top but they needed a last kick of the game equaliser from Saddam Bello to snatch victory from Paignton Saints 2nds, the final score was 3 – 3 in a great game at coach road, Matt Hill was also on the score sheet for the Plymouth team.
It is fair to say the wheels seem to have come off at Barton Athletic, who suffered another setback, this time at the hands of Liverton Utd, a 5-1 home loss was their third defeat in three weeks and drops them to second in the table having played three games more than most and leaves the top half looking like any a very open competition.
Babbacombe Corries had another good week at the office in what was an away game on their home ground (as they share) with Upton Athletic, 3-2 was the final score in yet another entertaining game for the crowd.
Lee Mcarthur, James Houghton and Daniel Lawton secured the points for Corries, who move into third place as Watcombe Wanderers 2nds lost for the second time this term, a 2-1 win for East Allington Utd 2nds may keep them in mid table but they have five games in hand on Barton Athletic and are only nine points behind.
In fact, there are now seven teams in this division that could challenge and one of them is Paignton Villa 2nds, who moved into fifth place with a 4-2 home victory versus a Harbertonford side that seem to have gone into reverse since September.
At the bottom of the table, Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds picked up a valuable three points versus Ipplepen Athletic reserves, a 2-0 home win gives Rangers a bit of breathing space and leaves the Pens rooted to the bottom with lots of work to do.
With just three games in Division Three due to County Cups, Drake FC and Elburton Villa had to share the points in a top versus third game. Callum Thomas and Christian George were on target for Drake, who have handed the baton back to Ashburton who had a free week.
Kingsteignton Athletic reserves also benefited from this draw; they remain in fourth place, five points behind with a game in hand. South Brent’s revival was brought to a halt by Waldon Athletic reserves.
Brent were 2-0 up with 10 minutes left and looking as if their third win on the trot was about to materialise, when up stepped new signing Liam Northcott to win the game for the visitors and leave the home team wondering what just happened.
Joshua Garside scored the winner after Liam had got his new team level. Waldon will feel that justice was served following a goal line clearance and a disputed penalty that ended up as a free kick due the poor pitch markings that virtually disappearing during the game. The result moves the Clarets into mid table and Brent have enough games in hand to move away from any danger.
In Division Four, Kingskerswell and Teign Village move further ahead at the top. Kerswell had a more respectable 4-1 win versus Paignton Villa 3rds and Teign Village had an entertaining 8-4 win over Barton Athletic reserves, who slip to bottom spot, and not helped by Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd winning by 5 goals to 3 at Waldon Athletic 3rds to move up a place to put themselves closer to Newton Rovers, Waldon Athletic and a Broadhempston team who lost 5 – 2 against Templar Way and need to rediscover their September form sooner rather than later.
Matt Caroll and Ben Walton were on target for Broads but a hat-trick from Alfie Moffatt and a double from Michael Collins won the points for Templar, who move back into fourth, seven points ahead of fifth placed Paignton Villa 3rds.
Games to catch on Saturday, November 16.
It’s all about cup football this Saturday with the opening rounds of the Herald Cup, which is the jewel of the South Devon League and the Fred Hewings Cup, the knockout competition for reserve teams only.
In the Herald Cup, there is an interesting fixture at JC Park where Brixham Town of Division One take on the Premier Division champions Ilsington Villa in a potential banana skin for the visitors and a chance for the home team to prove their premier division capabilities.
Another Division One versus Premier opposition will be at Devonport High School where Phoenix get their first taste of a higher league team in Totnes and Dartington. Another potential banana skin fixture is at South Devon College where Division Four new boys Templar Way will take on Division One Paignton Villa, who will need to be at their best to advance to round two.
The stand-out game in the Fred Hewings cup first round is an all-Division Three top of the table local derby at Kingsteignton where the 2nd team clash with reserves from Chudliegh Athletic, which should be a great game.
Whilst there are 14 first round cup games to choose from, the game of the day has to be at Osbourne Park in Newton Abbot where the top two in the Premier League meet for the first time this season, as 66 lock horns with Waldon Athletic in what should be a close game.
Cup games start at 2pm and league games at 2.30pm.
Enjoy your grassroots football.
