PREMIER DIVISION

WITH both Waldon Athletic and Newton Abbot 66 having a free weekend in the league, it gave the chasing pack an opportunity to catch up at the top of the SDFL Premier Division, writes Alastair Muirden.

Ilsington Villa got back to winning ways with a 3–1 home win against Elburton Villa, goals from Daniel Langford and Jamie Beer were enough to put the champions into third place, three points off the top with a game in hand.

Newton Abbot Spurs are making good progress up the league, a 5-nil win at Totnes and Dartington is an excellent scoreline that puts Spurs into fourth place, six points behind with two games in hand and the result drops Totnes into a respectable fifth place.

A third win on the bounce for Kingsteignton Athletic has moved them clear of the bottom three, a 1-nil win at local rivals Chudleigh Athletic thanks to a solitary goal from Nick Garrett leaves the home team third from bottom with Elburton Villa and Beesands Rovers below them.

Beesands came a cropper at Buckfastleigh Rangers who blew hot this week, a 4–1 win for the home team leaves the Bees searching for their second win of the season that would give some confidence to the players.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Plymouth Phoenix, True Blues and Bovey Tracey march on at the top with impressive wins. Phoenix remain 2 points clear at the top, a 4–1 win at Buckland Athletic with goals from JJ Honeywell, David Moore, Taylor Owen and Grant Craven keeping the momentum upwards for the pre-season favourites.

True Blues probably had the result of the day in the division, an 8–1 win at Brixham Town who lost for only the second time this term. A result almost as good as the overhead kick from Danny Wright that has been doing the rounds on social media this week. Bovey Tracey also enjoyed success on the road, a 5–1 win at WBB thanks to an all-round great team performance keeping them well placed to disrupt the Plymouth dominance in what is a good division.

DIVISION TWO

Last week, I reported that Division Two was officially a two-horse race but that may have been premature, after this week's results, I must admit it looks like a five-horse race, but only if the games in hand are turned into points.

Barton Athletic were beaten for the first time this term, a 4–2 home defeat by Watcombe Wanderers 2nds and a cracking game by all accounts putting the Greens 10 points off the top with three games in hand and both of these teams will be up there come May.

East Allington Utd 2nds are 12 points off the top with four games in hand and were held this week by bottom club Ipplepen Athletic in a 4 – 4 draw. Lastly, Liverton Utd are 13 points off the top with 4 games in hand, they enjoyed a 6–2 victory at Paignton Villa 2nds. Strikes from Joshua Passmore Tarpey, Jamie Passmore, Graham Merciea and Stuart Macualey were good enough to get Livvy back to winning ways.

The big game at the bottom went the way of the home team Newton Rovers who edged a niggly game by two goals to one against Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves, who swap places for now. The home team turned around a 1 nil deficit at halftime with goals from Jordan Bastow and a free kick from Keelan Howart that evaded everyone to cross the line right at the end to give Rovers their first win of the season and delight the home supporters enjoying the fantastic new facilities at Bakers Park.

DIVISION THREE

The top-of-the-table clash in Division Three was won by the hosts, Ashburton moving two points clear of Drake FC with a fine 2–1 win in what was a great game for the neutral but not so good for the managers. The Plymouth-based team headed down the A38 with only their second loss of the season whilst Ashburton have yet to lose a league game.

Kingsteignton Athletic make up the top four and a 5–2 home win versus Totnes and Dartington reserves with five players getting on the scoresheet- Louis Dickenson, Jason Jones, Finlay Lumgair, Stephen Payne and Mark Prowse all finding the target for the Rams.

DIVISION FOUR

The top of Division Four in the Torbay Clearance Services League is currently shared by three teams on 18 points.

Kingskerswell FC continue to impress at this level, a 7–1 home win against Templar Way keeping their momentum going and top scorer Josh Clarke hit another four goals to add to his own impressive total at the moment.

Chudleigh Athletic 2nds are level on points with Kerswell, a 5–2 win at Broadhempston Utd is a very good result, strikes from Christian Williams, Oliver Bradley and Ben Hamilton Hill were enough to win the points for the visitors. Teign Village remain in third place but they suffered a shock 4-1 home defeat by Newton Rovers reserves in a niggly game that sees Rovers into mid-table and enjoying some better results than they have had for a few seasons.

PREVIEWS

There is just the one Premier Division game this week as the county cups once again take up two weeks of league fixtures.

Your Premier fix can be found at Broadpark where Kingsteignton Athletic welcome Totnes and Dartington which should be an entertaining affair. In Division One, who does not like a derby, and a fisherman's derby at that, well worth a watch at Wall Park will be Brixham AFC versus Brixham Town.

The big game in Division Two is at Long Lane where Watcombe Wanderers 2nds lock horns with table toppers Barton Athletic who will need to be at their best to get past the greens.