It may be as you were in the top half of the SDFL Premier Division after this week’s results but Ilsington Villa huffed and puffed to get passed a determined Beesands Rovers’ side fighting for their top-flight status.

It took goals from Daniel Langford and Myles Caldwell to secure a 2-1 home win and remain in pole position with seven games to play.

Keeping up the pressure and remaining level on points with the Moorlanders are Newton Abbot 66, who have played a game more and made no mistakes in their 4-1 victory over Chudleigh Athletic, who are also fighting for their top division status.

Ashley Dove scored twice with Callum Foskett and 17 year-old Marley Rivers also finding the net. Coincidentally, 66 only have six games to play and two of them are against top four clubs, with a big one next week against Newton Abbot Spurs.

Kingsteignton Athletic remain in third place after brushing aside Elburton Villa by 6 goals to 1, Nick Garrett won the match ball with a hat-trick alongside goals from Tom Reeves, Kelsey Leech and Matt Williams.

Buckfastleigh Rangers stay in fourth place but it could have been so much more as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Paignton Saints. The two teams meet again next week in the Herald Cup. Newton Abbot Spurs continue to be upwardly mobile, they had a good win over East Allington Utd and stay in fifth place thanks to a 3- 2 scoreline at the Rec. Callum Noyce, Jaimie Micklewright and Jake Mitchell were the target men for Spurs, who are eight points off the lead with four games in hand and are becoming the writers’ favourites for the title just two seasons after joining the South Devon Football League.

Waldon Athletic got back to winning ways after a turbulent week for the club, a 4-1 home win against Totnes and Dartington was just the medicine for the Torquay-based team, who will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. Les Afful bagged two and there were singles for Kyle Doughty and Frank Major to keep the Clarets in contention.

There were only two league games played in Division One due to delayed cup games, as Bovey Tracey took advantage with a fine 5-2 win at Newton Spurs 3rds to keep themselves ahead of Windmill and within touching distance of True Blues.

Paignton Villa moved above Buckland Athletic in the standings with a 2-1 win over the Newton Abbot side. Goals from Daniel Petty and Charlie Thomas puts the Villa into fifth place and just four points off the top four.

In Division Two, Barton Athletic picked up three free points, as Buckfastleigh Rangers reserves could not raise a team but, despite being in pole position, they must be looking over their shoulders as the clubs as far down as East Allington 2nds in seventh place have games in hand over the leaders, who only have seven to play.

Mount Gould in third place have an incredible seven games in hand and 12 points behind. Paignton Villa 2nds have been in a run of good form of late but that came to an end at Harbertonford, who ran out winners on the day by 3 goals to 1. Strikes from Seb Looker, Joshua Block and George Haan won the points for the Fords.

You can never write off a Watcombe Wanderers team and the Greens, having endured an indifferent start to the season, are up to fifth place with games in hand thanks to a 5-1 win at Bakers Park against Newton Rovers. Keiron Dale scored two and there were singles from Simon Ross, Steve Doyle and Sam Edney.

Paignton Saints reserves also moved away from any potential trouble with a 6-2 home win versus Upton Athletic, who are also in a safe mid-table berth.

In Division Three, Drake FC let two more points slip away in their quest for a second successive promotion, as visitors South Brent were more than happy with a 1-1 draw that moves them further away from the bottom two.

Kasper Gorecki was on target for the Plymouth team, who remain in second place but, just to put this division into context, South Brent are third from bottom with five games in hand and should they win them they could bag a promotion spot.

Another team with games in hand are Totnes and Dartington 2nds. They despatched Paignton Saints 3rds 6-0 with strikes from Ryan Turner, Jimmy Spriggs, Jordan Baxter, Connor Bagnell and Harry Parnham, a result which leaves Saints second from bottom having conceded 95 goals in 13 games.

It was business as usual in Division Four, where Kingskerswell saw off the Teign Village challenge, winning 7-0 and now only need one more win to be crowned champions.

The race for second place will go to the wire. Templar Way, currently in second place, won 5-2 at home against Broadhempston United. Toto Whittle scored four goals before being subbed off and James McGrain added a single after replacing him.

Teign Village remain in third place with a game in hand and, should it come down to goal difference, Templar are on plus 21 and Village are on plus 20, so that extra game for Village could make the difference.

Chudleigh Athletic reserves remain in fourth place with two games in hand. They won 4-1 at Kingsbridge and Kellaton United with goals from Joshua Webber, Jack Wills and Warren Smart to keep their good season on track. Paignton Villa 3rds and Waldon Athletic 3rds shared a 2-2 draw and both remain in midtable.

It’s all up for the cup this week, as teams battle for a place in the quarter finals of the Herald Cup, and what an offering is available to grassroots supporters.

Premier Division club East Allington United welcome Division One’s top team Plymouth True Blues to Poole Lane in what should be a difficult game for both teams.

Another Plymouth-based team in Phoenix get the experience of visiting Long Lane to face a Watcombe Wanderers team determined to keep a cup run going.

There is an all-Division One tie between Bovey Tracey and Ivybridge Town and down at Loddiswell, two of the bottom three in the top division clash in the cup, when Beesands Rovers play Chudleigh Athletic in a game where the winning team will get a boost of confidence to take back to their league fixtures.

The cup would not be the cup without a banana skin game, and there are two on offer. Premier Division Waldon Athletic travel to Division Three outfit South Brent, with no doubt a brief to avoid any trainspotting during the game, while Kingsteignton Athletic will be taking nothing for granted when Division Two side Liverton United visit Broadpark.

Buckfastleigh Rangers host Paignton Saints for the second time in a week in an all-Premier Division tie at Duckspond.

But my game of the day is not in the cup, it is the Premier Division clash at Osbourne Park between Newton Abbot 66 and Newton Abbot Spurs, where it really is a don’t-lose-game for both teams. The last meeting, just two weeks ago, went the way of Spurs, who won 3-0 and put 66 out of the Belli Cup, so I am sure that Mr Clenahan and Mr Feaver will make sure their teams have their eyes on the prize for this game.

All cup games kick off at 2pm with the Newton Abbot derby starting at 2.30pm

Enjoy your grassroots football.