BAD weather threatened to put paid to much of the weekend’s non-league football – but there was only one casualty involving a Teignbridge team.
After last Wednesday’s 6-3 thriller against Honiton Town, Bovey Tracey’s Peninsula Premier East clash against Elmore at Mill Marsh Park was called off on Saturday due to a saturated pitch.
With no game scheduled this midweek, the Moorlanders will look ahead to their trip to Sidmouth on Saturday with hopes for a fourth win of the season.
Elsewhere, Newton Abbot Spurs came back from Torrington with all three points – but survived a second half scare on the way to their 5-2 win.
After the hosts hit the crossbar with three minutes gone, a quick-fire double from Josh Webber saw the travelling side open up a two-goal lead.
And when Ollie Aplin added a third for his side before half-time, it looked as though the game was as good as over.
But back came Torrington with goals in the 71st and 73rd minutes which put them right back in with a shout of getting something from the game.
The resurgence lasted all of two minutes, though, as Dean Stevens found the net from range to restore a two-goal advantage.
Then, 12 minutes from time, a composed Webber sealed his hat-trick and all three points from the penalty spot.
The Spurs are due to entertain Elmore in the league on Wednesday night (7.30pm), with Ringwood Town set to pay The Rec a visit on Saturday in the First Round Proper of the FA Vase (3pm).
In the Devon Football League North & East, Teignmouth have finally lost their unbeaten tag thanks to a surprise 3-2 defeat away at Liverton United.
Goals from Jack Baxter and Ashley Donohue ultimately weren’t enough for the Teigns, who came unstuck thanks to efforts from Nick Edmunds, Dejan Maric and Neil Last.
The result saw Livvy pick up just their second win of the season and move up to 10th in the table, while the Teigns slipped to second.
A tricky start to the campaign continued for 10-man Chudleigh Athletic, who went down 4-1 at home to Topsham Town.
One-time Buckland Athletic man Ethan Phillips got a brace for the visitors, who also scored through Lee Radford and Thomas Wood.
Chudleigh, who had Cameron Hooper sent for an early bath, found the net through Mathew Carroll.
And a 2-1 win at home to Exmouth Town Reserves means that St Martins are now unbeaten in their last three games. They sit ninth.
In the DFL South & West division, Buckland Athletic Reserves made it eight wins out of eight with a 4-0 win against Bere Alston United at Homers Heath.
A Dan Rankin double, plus efforts from Cliff Walters and substitute Ryan Stanbridge, meant the Bucks were able to extend their perfect start.
Another team on the charge are Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves, who ground out a 2-1 win away at Roselands to record two wins in a week and rise to fourth in the table.
Thomas Johns and Joe Molloy cancelled out Thomas Dunlop’s effort for the hosts, who were fresh off the back of a 10-0 thrashing of Waldon Athletic last Wednesday.
Substitutes Johns (4) and Jake Elms (2) got the majority of the goals in that one, along with efforts from Molloy, James Moxon, Sam Hancox and Owen Green.
Saturday was a day to forget for Kingsteignton Athletic, though, whose return to action saw them lose 5-0 away at Okehampton Argyle.
The goals for the third-placed side came courtesy of Robin Knight (2), Bradley Ausden, Redd Cann and Luke Mortimore.