IT WAS the turn of the divisional cups to kick off this week in the South Devon Football League, offering all teams the shortest route to glory as if you get through the first round, you are in the quarter-final and just two wins from a cup final, reports Alastair Muirden.

Just four games were lost to the midweek rain so a big well done to all the volunteer ground staff that worked their socks off to get their pitches playable.

GEORGE BELLI CUP

The George Belli Cup is for the Premier Division teams and there were some mixed results in the first round.

Paignton Saints navigated their way past a determined Chudleigh Athletic side by two goals to one, the home team struck the woodwork twice and had a shot saved on the line but goals from Matt Read and skipper Aaron Knapman put Saints into the quarter-final.

Also safely through are Newton Abbot Spurs who overcame their neighbours Newton Abbot 66 by three goals to nil at a boggy Osbourne Park, Aiden Blackie, Jack Upsher and an own goal were enough to end Sixes interest in the Belli Cup.

South Devon Football League. Match action from the Belli Cup as Newton Abbot 66 play Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds. Not a good day day at Osborne Park for '66 as they went down by three goals to nil to their near neighbours
South Devon Football League. Match action from the Belli Cup as Newton Abbot 66 play Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds. Not a good day day at Osborne Park for '66 as they went down by three goals to nil to their near neighbours (Steve Pope/MDA)

Bottom club Beesands Rovers enjoyed a win at last but they had to play extra time and penalties against Elburton Villa who lost their goalkeeper to injury during the week. The game ended 4–4 but Rovers won the shootout with a perfect five.

Ilsington Villa came out on top in a gargantuan 3–2 home win against Buckfastleigh Rangers, Daniel Langford bagged all three goals for the Moorlanders who stay on course for a league and cup double.

PREMIER DIVISION

In the only Premier Division game played, Kingsteignton Athletic had a great win against Waldon Athletic. Nick Garrett and Tom Reeves secured a 2-nil home win for the Rams, which puts them just four points off the top with plenty of football still to play.

DARTMOUTH CUP

There was only one Dartmouth Cup game played in division one due to pitch availability, the Bovey Tracey taking a trip to the seaside to take on Brixham Town and the game went to form, a 2-nil win for the visitors with goals from Matt Churchill and Ben Moyle.

This keeps them on track for a successful season and allows Town to concentrate on moving up the league table.

DIVISION ONE

In the league, True Blues dropped some more points, this time they were held by an improving Buckland Athletic side to a 2–2 draw at the Heath. Caleb Needham was the target man for True Blues who remain on top, six points clear of Phoenix who have four games in hand and remain in three cup competitions with a fixture backlog looming.

Windmill and Bovey Tracey remain in 3rd and 4th and are the only realistic challengers to the two Plymouth teams that have led the division all season.

LIDSTONE CUP

In the Division Two Lidstone Cup, top-of-the-table Barton Athletic suffered a shock first-round exit to local rivals Watcombe Wanderers 2nds in a dramatic penalty shootout where both teams missed but Barton missed more. The game ended 3–3 and the Greens progress to the quarter-finals once again and leave Athletic to concentrate on their final 8 league fixtures.

East Allington Utd 2nds are also safely through, a 2-nil home win against Paignton Saints 2nds thanks to strikes from Daniel Bastin and Jake Blamey sees the young Pirates continue with their impressive season.

Liverton Utd had a close call but overcame Buckfastleigh Rangers reserves by 3 goals to 2 at Halford following 2 goals for Rangers from John Bovey.

DIVISION TWO

In the only league game in Division Two, Paignton Villa 2nds moved into fourth place by beating Newton Rovers 3-nil and effectively announced themselves as challengers to Barton/Corries and Mount Gould.

Xander Narvidge scored twice and there was a single for Josh Bird and not forgetting a shout-out to the man of the match Jakob Hourahine, who I am told controlled the game for 90 minutes.

RONALD CUP

In the Division Three Ronald Cup, the three games all went to form with three of the top five teams in the league progressing to the quarter-finals.

Elburton Villa 3rds made the biggest statement with a 5–1 win against a Waldon Athletic 2nd team that was full of players that once upon a time played at a higher level and just proves that football games are not won on paper.

Another Plymouth-based team also made it through, Drake FC had a decent result, 3-nil versus an experienced Liverton Utd team with goals from Stan Roberts, Oliver Hodgson and super-sub Aaron Sherlock were enough for the win.

Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds join the two Plymouth teams in the next round courtesy of a 3–1 victory at Totnes and Dartington 2nds, strikes from Harry Bannister, Mark Prowse and Ryan Sanders keeping the young Rams on course for a great season.

DIVISION THREE

The only league fixture to be played in Division Three saw the top two go head-to-head in a pulsating game that ended up a 1-1 draw.

As a result, Ashburton remain on top with 34 points from 14 games and Stoke Gabriel TP are second on 27 points from 14 games, these two have now played each other twice and shared the points in both games.

LES BISHOP CUP

In Division Four’s Les Bishop Cup, the two games that were played also went the way of the form book.

Kingskerswell scored nine goals without reply against Broadhampston Utd and Templar Way grasped a first taste of cup success with a 3–1 victory versus Newton Rovers 2nds at Bakers Park.

DIVISION FOUR

In the only league game played in Division Four, Teign Village won 5–1 against Kingsbridge & Kellaton Utd and in doing so, moved within a point of Templar Way and they have a game in hand with just four games to play. One of those games is at Kingskerswell this Saturday.

PREVIEWS

In the Premier Division, two of the in-form teams meet at Newton Rec where Spurs take on East Allington Utd in what should be a great game.

Division One has a repeat of last season’s Dartmouth Cup final at South Devon College between Paignton Villa and Buckland Athletic- this could be a high-scoring fixture with both teams looking for a top-five place.

In Division Two, there is a local derby at Armada Park where Upton Athletic welcome Watcombe Wanderers 2nds and Division Three offers a fixture for our Plymouth friends at Manadon 3g, where Drake Fc take on South Brent with both teams in need of the three points.

Finally, my game of the day is in Division Four. It is top versus 3rd at Kingskerswell where Teign Village will attempt to be the first team to take points at the league leaders.

Enjoy your grassroots football!