PREMIER DIVISION

IT MAY well 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 past a determined Beesands Rovers side who are fighting to avoid the drop. Goals from Daniel Langford and Myles Caldwell helped them secure a 2-1 win and retain pole position.

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 strugglers Chudleigh Athletic. Ashley Dove scored twice with Carl Foskett and 17-year-old Marley Rivers also finding the net. No doubt young Marley will be hoping to follow in his father's footsteps- Mark making 331 appearances for Crewe Alexandra, Norwich City and Carlisle Utd and netted 62 goals along the way.

Coincidentally, 66 only have six games to play and two of them are against top-four clubs, so there are plenty of points to be played for, especially next week against Newton Abbot Spurs.

Elsewhere, Kingsteignton Athletic remain in third place after brushing aside Elburton Villa by six goals to one, Nick Garret won the match ball whilst Tom Reeves, Kelsey Leech and Matt Williams weighed in with singles.

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 in a game that both teams felt that it was two points dropped. The two teams meet again next week in the Herald Cup and with extra time and penalties, there will definitely be a winner.

Newton Abbot Spurs continue to be upwardly mobile as 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, Jamie Micklewright and Jake Mitchell were the target men for Spurs who are eight points off the lead with four games in hand and as the weeks go by, they are becoming the writer’s favourites for the title just two seasons after joining the South Devon Football League from the 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.

DIVISION ONE

There were only two league games played in Division One due to delayed cup games and 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 putting the Villa into fifth place and just 4 points off the top four.

DIVISION TWO

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. 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 are only 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 three goals to one, strikes coming from Seb Looker, Joshua Block and George Haan.

Most of you know that you can never write off a Watcombe Wanderers team and the Greens, having had 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 squeaky bum time with a 6–2 home win versus Upton Athletic who are also in a safe mid-table berth.

DIVISION THREE

In Division Three, Drake FC let two more points slip away in their quest for a second successive promotion as visitors South Brent are 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, who dispatched Paignton Saints 3rds 6-nil 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.

DIVISION FOUR

It was business as usual in Division Four as Kingskerswell saw off the Teign Village challenge, winning 7-nil 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 Utd, Toto Whittle scoring 4 goals before being subbed off, his replacement James McGrain adding the fifth. Now that’s what managers are supposed to do!

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

Chudleigh Athletic reserves remain in fourth place with two games in hand but would need Templar or Village to slip up to overtake them. This week they won 4–1 at Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd with goals from Joshua Webber, Jack Wills and Warren Smart keeping their good season on track.

Paignton Villa 3rds and Waldon Athletic 3rds shared a 2–2 draw and both remain in mid-table.

PREVIEWS

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 East Allington Utd welcome division One’s top team Plymouth True Blues to Poole Lane whilst Plymouth Phoenix visit Watcombe Wanderers at Long Lane.

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, Beesands hosting Chudleigh.

The cup would not be the cup without a banana skin game and there are two on offer- Premier Division Waldon travelling to Division Three South Brent and Kingsteignton hosting Liverton United.

Despite all of this, my game of the day is not in the cup. It is instead, the Premier Division clash at Osbourne Park between Newton Abbot 66 and Newton Abbot Spurs, a don’t lose game for both.

The pair met just two weeks ago when Spurs won 3-0 in the Belli Cup and 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.