STOKE Gabriel & Torbay Police were unable to move further ahead of Newton Abbot Spurs in the Walter C Parson SW Peninsula League East standings when they visited a struggling Middlezoy Rovers side.

Given the form of Stoke and the lowly position in the table of Middlezoy, the away side were definitely the favourites on paper, but this edge did not come to fruition.

Dan Male and Acey Mead struck to earn the team from Somerset a fifth win of the campaign, as they attempt to navigate themselves away from any relegation worries.

Newton Spurs had a week off and so the Bees could have moved five points ahead of fourth-placed Newton. Instead, the gap remains at two points and Spurs have a whopping five games in hand up their sleeve.

Bridport FC were in similar circumstances, hosting 13th-placed Bishops Lydeard with an opportunity to jump above Spurs, only for Callum Chivers to score the only goal of the game for Bishops after eight minutes. It was clearly an eventful affair as he was one of three players to be shown a red- Bridport duo James Cox and Solomon Padmore also being given their marching orders.

The two other league games of the weekend pitted Torrington AFC against Teignmouth AFC and Torridgeside AFC against Honiton Town.

Home ground troubles may be plaguing Teignmouth but they were still able to come out on top here thanks to goals from Ryan Tresidder and substitute Harry Payne. It ended 2-1 with Bradley Williams scoring the Torrington goal whilst his teammate Jacob Mardling was sent off in the first half.

This is a sixth win of the season for Teignmouth and they remain ahead of both Bishops Lydeard and Middlezoy as a result. It was a strong day of results for those in the lower reaches of the SWPL East table.

Torridgeside vs Honiton was a mid-table clash between 10th and 11th and the pair couldn’t be separated. The former took the lead from the penalty spot before Honiton found an equaliser in the first 45. Both teams scored again after the break to share the points in a 2-2 draw, Tyler Evans-Loude and Blake Shapland scoring the T’side goals.

As previously mentioned, Spurs had no game scheduled whereas Bovey Tracey AFC were supposed to be in action, only for the inclement weather to interfere.

The Moorlanders were going to host Crediton United at Mill Marsh Park with the latter only ahead in the table on goal difference.

This coming weekend brings with it some fascinating fixtures and what better way to kickstart March.

Teignmouth’s “home” game against league leaders Sidmouth Town will instead take place at Cullompton Rangers’ Speeds Meadow for a 15:00 kick on the Saturday.

Getting underway at the same time will be a local matchup between Bovey and Newton Spurs at Mill Marsh, a fixture which always carries an added weight and spice.

A win for the hosts would be evidence of their impressive turnaround since Matt Hayden took over as manager, but for Spurs, they can move ahead of Stoke and into third if they claim all three points with the South Hams-based team not playing.

Other fixtures of note this weekend include Crediton’s home game against strugglers Axminster Town and Honiton’s Walter C Parson League Cup quarter-final outing away at Newquay AFC.