THE curtain has now closed on one of the most exciting SDFL seasons in years.

With the playing of the final league games, promotion and relegation spots are finally confirmed.

Ilsington Villa are the Premier Division champions for the first time in their history, by a margin of 16 points no less having lost just the one game. Plymstock-based Morley Rangers pipped Buckfastleigh Rangers to second place thanks to a superior goal difference.

Meanwhile, it is Brixham AFC and Watts Blake Bearne who have suffered relegation at the other end of the top-flight.

Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds came out on top in Division One, a strong end to the season getting them over the line. They beat Ivybridge Town 2-0 at home before putting 15 past Babbacombe and then Harbertonford forfeited the decisive fixture. Ivy and Totnes and Dartington were firmly in the mix all the way but it is Paignton Saints that will be promoted alongside Spurs.

That pasting didn’t do the Corinthians any favours who were relegated alongside Buckfastleigh’s seconds, owing in part to a whopping -72 GD.

Division Two was settled some weeks ago by Bovey Tracey 2nds, who have continued to progress through the leagues. They were on course for an invincible season but couldn’t live up to the heights of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, falling on the final day 3-2 to Paignton seconds.

This was a big win for Saints although they were still a point behind runners-up Spurs’ thirds, with another team from the latter club enjoying promotion this year. Bringing up the rear were Brixham Town who volunteered to fill the spot in the division at the eleventh hour, being repaid with one win and 17 defeats. At the same time, Waldon Athletic were just a point away from safety but couldn’t quite claw it back.

Division Three was not confirmed until the evening of Tuesday 28, Watcombe Wanderers’ seconds being presented with the trophy following a 2-2 draw against Waldon Athletic thirds.

Liverton United and Ashburton were next up, both on 45 points, one less than Watcombe’s 46, and it was the former who won the battle of goal difference.

At the bottom, Kingsbridge will be relegated as will Kellaton Utd and Teign Village although drama is still afoot. Waldon finished fourth from bottom but cannot play in the same division as their now-relegated seconds, with a solution yet to be reached.

Division Four was decided on the penultimate day of the season and top spot went the way of Elburton Villa, who dropped points in just two of their 22 games. Liverton United’s 2nds pushed them all the way and finished the campaign with a very impressive 19 wins themselves.