Ilsington Villa handed late promotion

Ilsington Villa manager Anthony Lacey says that his side 'deserves' to be in the WBW South Devon League Premier Division, even though they have been 'promoted' as a result of a close-season reshuffle.

Villa, who have completed a remarkable rise from Division Three in four years, finished third in Division One in May, one point behind second-placed Morley Rangers.

But now the SDL, grappling with clubs dropping down from the Devon League, have ordered a restructure, which has included a third team, Villa, moving up to the Premier.

It will be the first time that the Lewthorne Cross club has ever played in the SDL's top flight.

"I think the lads deserve it - we deserve to be up there for the way we played last season," said former Villa player and long-serving boss Lacey. 

The village team looked odds-on to complete a second successive cup-and-promotion double at the end of last season.

But six days after thrashing Upton Athletic 7-2 in the divisional Dartmouth Cup Final, a team weakened by injury and availability problems lost 1-3 at home to the same side in the league.

A 3-0 win at Buckfastleigh Rangers in their last game left Villa a point behind Morley, with Beesands Rovers as champions.

"You obviously want to win or finish runners-up," said Lacey, "but a lot of our lads are good enough to play in the Premier, so let's see how good they and the whole squad are.

"A mid-table finish would suit us - any more would be a bonus.

"It will be good to visit some new grounds away from home, and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Ilsington, who don't run a reserve side, are currently trying to strengthen their roster during the summer.

But one area that should definitely be good enough is in attack, where strikers Dan Langford and Matt Warman scored 61 goals between them last season.