A NUMBER of teams requested a free weekend so that they could Abbfest in Newton Abbot, creating some games in hand across the divisions, writes Alastair Muirden.

One team that tried to stay ahead of the field was Newton Abbot 66 who agreed to play Chudleigh Athletic on Thursday evening under the lights at Newton Rec.

Although they won by a goal to nil thanks to Joe Clark Farley’s strike, they then ran out of steam when they faced the current champions Ilsington Villa who inflicted the first defeat of the season for the sixes on Saturday. This was a 4-0 home win for the Moorlanders courtesy of strikes from George and Jack Dixon and another goal from Daniel Langford- this keeps them in third, three points behind 66 but with two games in hand.

Buckfastleigh Rangers 1st won a heavy-weight battle at the Duckspond by trimming Kingsteignton Athletic by 3 goals to 2. The Rams, who are normally pre-season favourites for a top three place, are left pointless after three games and will need to turn their form around quickly if they are to challenge this season.

Division One now only has two teams with a 100% record following True Blues being held to a 1-1 draw by Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds and Brixham Town sharing a 2 – 2 game with WBB. Deven Webb was the Spurs hero who put the first dent in the ambitions of Plymouth True Blues in a division where any team can pull out a result.

Bovey Tracey, just 3 points behind with a game in hand, also had a great result, a 3-nil win at much-fancied Ivybridge Town.

The top of Division Two looks like a two-horse race at the moment, Barton Athletic had a comfortable 4-nil home win versus Newton Rovers and Mount Gould had the same scoreline at Armada Park against Babbacombe Corries.

East Allington are also unbeaten having played their first league game this week and beating Buckfastleigh Rangers 5-2, courtesy of goals from Daniel Bastin, Lee Prestage, Ben Greeno and Tyler Littlejohns.

Paignton Villa 2nds were also winners, beating Ipplepen Athletic with a remarkable 8-3 score, which completed a good weekend for the club with all teams picking up points.

In Division Three, there is a new name in the top four in the form of Ashburton. They are the first team to take points from Liverton Utd 2nds this season after a hard-fought 2-1 win at Halford moves them into 3rd place and well placed to make up for the disappointment of losing out in the promotion race by one point.

Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds remain in fourth place despite losing for the first time this season, a 2–1 home defeat by Stoke Gabriel TP 2nds thanks to a double strike by Adam Blackburn was enough to move the Railwaymen into 5th place with a game in hand.

The game of the day in Division Four was between two of the new teams and both were unbeaten in the league. The truth is that Kingskerswell were too strong for Templar Way and in fielding a current Western League player and two players that were playing Premier League football last season with a mix of youth and experience, they were worth their 8–3 victory.

Josh Clarke put Kerswell in front on five minutes and added his second on 14 minutes, in between that Josh Cawsey got in on the act with a fine strike and when Alex Harding made it four on the half hour it was game over. Templar Way made a fight of the game in the second half by scoring three goals courtesy of Chris Bennett and Alfie Moffat but Kerswell had added another four to remain the only team in this division with a 100 % start to the season.

Chudleigh Athletic 2nds top the division with a 5-nil home win against Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd, goals from Gavin and Jason Lake with a single from Charlie Forey was good enough to keep them at the top, not bad having lost their opening game of the campaign.

Broadhempston Utd lost their perfect start to the season, they were well beaten by 5 goals to 1 by a Teign Village side who are already having a better season following relegation. Newton Rovers 2nds also remain well placed following a close 2 – 1 win at Barton Athletic 2nds and sees them mid-table and full of confidence. Interestingly this game was refereed by the youngest referee available to the referee appointment secretary, at just 15 years of age he has made the move into adult football and is getting rave reviews and high marks- who knows how far this young person can go in refereeing.

Turning to the games to catch this Saturday and in the Premier League, there is a battle at the wrong end of the division at Loddiswell where Beesands Rovers face Chudleigh Athletic where a win for either team could have a big effect so early in the season.

In Division One you can take your pick of WBB v True Blues at Abbrook Park, Paignton Villa v Brixham Town always a great game between friends or Buckland Athletic 2nds travel west for the third game in a row this time to Ivybridge Town, but my pick of the day is at Bovey Tracey, who host Plymouth Pheonix in a top of the table match where at least one 100% record will go.

In Division Two, Mount Gould host Liverton Utd in Plymouth and Harbertonford travel to Barton Downs to face Barton Athletic. To Division Three and Liverton Utd 2nds also have to travel to Plymouth to play Drake FC in a top-of-the-table game, last season Livvy came out on top in both games so I am sure that the Plymouth team will be looking to take the points this term.

And in Division Four, new boys Kingskerswell FC host Broadhempston Utd in a top-of-the-table clash. All of these games kick off at 2.30pm.