PREMIER DIVISION

IN THE Torbay Clearance Services Premier Division, Ilsington Villa returned to the top with a 2-nil home win against relegation-threatened Chudleigh Athletic, reports Alastair Muirden.

Myles Caldwell and Jack Dixon were on target for the Villa who were no doubt assisted in their return to pole position by Kingsteignton Athletic’s 4–1 home win versus Newton Abbot 66. Goals from Luke Manuell (2) Callum Leach and Ryan Togvaliari have brought Sixes back down to earth after their great result last week.

Kingsteignton on the other hand, are in fourth place just four points behind 66 and are now the highest scorers in the division.

Buckfastleigh Rangers are also in the same boat as the Rams but with a game in hand- they had a comfortable 4–1 win against Beesands Rovers who were close to not putting out a team as a result of a norovirus outbreak in the Kingsbridge area. Steve Sutton added to his goal tally for Rangers who make up the top five.

Newton Abbot Spurs remain in sixth place with three games in hand and with a big squad to pick from and will be challenging come May. A tough 4–2 win at Elburton Villa, who themselves are improving without getting the wins, was enough to bring the points up the A38.

Waldon Athletic’s woes continue, a 2-2 stalemate against East Allington Utd who twice held the lead through Finlay Bullen and Ben Tapper have put yet another dent in the ambitions of the Torquay-based team and moves the Pirates eight points clear of the bottom three.

DIVISION ONE

Division One is still very tight for the top four and True Blues and Phoenix remain unbeaten.

True Blues had an impressive 8-nil win at relegation-threatened Ivybridge Town and with seven players getting on the scoresheet, this just proves they have talent all over the team and could well be playing Premier League football next season.

Phoenix had a trip to the seaside to visit Paignton Villa and came away with a 5-nil win to keep them very much favourites for this division. Villa remain one of six teams in mid-table and separated by six points and have games in hand over each other.

Bovey Tracey were on cup business, which gave Windmill the opportunity to close the gap in a tricky game at Brixham Town. A Brodie Simpson hat trick and singles from Louis Godwin and Myles Hunt completed a 5-nil victory at JC Park to keep up the pressure on their Plymouth neighbours.

Also, a word of congratulations to Shaun Langdon and his band of volunteers who have turned a horse compound and stable into a very good football pitch with pitch side parking, which is a fantastic facility for the community so well done to all at Brixham Town.

In the two other midtable fixtures in Division One, Buckland Athletic won 2-nil at Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds and Watcombe beat WBB 3 nil with goals from Laurence Macloud, Jack White and Zac Steele.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, the top two of Barton Athletic and Mount Gould were on cup duty, which gave the chasing pack of four a chance to close the gap and East Allington Utd 2nds, Liverton Utd and Paignton Villa 2nds duly obliged.

East Allington were the big scorers of the day with an 11-nil thumping of bottom club Ipplepen Athletic and Paignton Villa had a very impressive 5–1 win at White Rock versus Watcombe Wanderers 2nds.

Liverton Utd also hit the net five times to overcome Upton Athletic at Armada Park. Babbacombe Corries could not find the points that would have put them into second place at Harbertonford where they lost 1-nil to a Luke Collens strike that moves Fords up four places and well away from the relegation battle that they have endured in recent seasons.

DIVISION THREE

The big game in Division Three went the way of Elburton Villa 3rds, a 3-nil win over Stoke Gabriel TP closes the gap to just one point between 3rd and 4th place.

Second-placed Drake FC also dropped points at improving Newton Abbot 66 2nds, the Plymouth team had to settle for a 1–1 draw and finished the game with ten players at Osbourne Park.

Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds also remain well placed for a challenge, a 3-nil win at South Brent thanks to goals from Ashton Hogarth and a double from Harry Bannister keeps the young rams in 5th place 4 points off 2nd with a game in hand.

South Brent remain in the bottom three but have three games in hand on the teams above them and just need to find a win.

DIVISION FOUR

As expected in Division Four, Kingskerswell move further clear at the top and as the only team in all the divisions with a 100% league record.

This week’s 7-nil win over Kingsbridge and Kellaton with a hat-trick from the league’s top striker Joshua Clarke and his brother Oliver with Shane Shobbrook rolling back the years with a single goal.

Templar Way remain in 2nd place but eight points behind the leaders with a 4–3 home win in an ill-tempered game against Waldon Athletic 3rds, Chris Bennett scored a hat trick and Nick Osbourne was also on target for Templar in a game that produced 7 yellows and 2 reds- lots of paperwork for the referee and lots of fines and suspensions for the players.

Teign Village make up the top three with a 3–2 win over Paignton Villa 3rds and Chudleigh Athletic 2nds are 4th, just a tad off the pace, thanks to a 3–1 home win versus bottom team Barton Athletic 2nds.

CUP GAMES

There were two delayed cup games played this week. In the Herald Cup, Bovey Tracey of Division One dispatched Barton Athletic of Division Two by three goals to one. Alister Chuchuk, John Agpoon and Ben Goble scored the goals in front of a decent crowd that put Bovey in the hat for the next round.

Ashburton are also still in the cup following their trip to Mount Gould in Plymouth, the game was level at 2–2 and with no extra time goals or replays, the dreaded penalty shootout was on and it was the Ashes who held their nerve by scoring four of the spot kicks when Mount Gould missed two.

The full draw for the next round will be published in next week’s edition and will be available on the full-time website.