Festive football for Moorland clubs

There have been very few blips in the season for Ivybridge Town but their adventure in the Walter C Parson Cup came to an end with a 1-0 defeat at home to Axminster Town.

The Ivies have been incredible in the league, losing just once, and they hold a seven-point lead over Crediton United in the South West Peninsula East Division.

Bovey Tracey moved into the top six with a dominant 5-1 win over Honiton Town, Lewis Perring scoring twice for Bovey. There was also a double for Luke Mortimore in a thrilling 4-3 win for Okehampton Argyle over Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police.

The Boxing Day programme will take Ivybridge Town to Elburton Villa and the Okes are away to Crediton United. Bovey are without a game until an intriguing trip to Okehampton on Saturday, 30th December, which should be a cracking way to close 2023.

Tavistock AFC enter the Christmas period in a position of flux in Division One South of the Southern League.

The Lambs are bang in the middle of the table and just four points away from the play-off positions, with games in hand, but they are also only a bad run away from slipping down the division.

The respite for Tavvy is the fact Exmouth Town look cut adrift at the bottom and with only one side going down, Stuart Henderson’s men will be looking upwards. However, they will need to find some consistency, as demonstrated by a disappointing 3-2 loss to struggling Bashley.

Late goals from Alex Battle and Ed Harrison could not mask a lacklustre display but the festive schedule of a trip to Bemerton Heath Harlequins and a Boxing Day visit from Bideford could prove to be a turning point in their season. Win those and anything is possible.