Local leagues ready for titles races

Football is ready to resume after the Christmas break in the Devon & Exeter Football League, and all options remain on the table across nine divisions and various cup competitions.

Kentisbeare lead the way in the Premier Division but Alphington are just three points behind, and have four games in hand. The likes of Winkleigh, Colyton, Lapford and Upottery are still involved in the race. At the bottom, Elmore 2nds and Okehampton Argyle 2nds occupy the final two positions.

St Martins hold top spot in Division One but are being hunted down by University of Exeter 3rds, who have games in hand. Teignmouth 2nds and Wellington 2nds are joint third, with Dawlish United cut adrift at the bottom.

Westexe Park Rangers are the team to catch in Division Two, with Central and University 4ths leading the pack behind them, while Division Three is shaping up for a fascinating few months. Budleigh Salterton 2nds have a four-point lead but Witheridge, in second, are still unbeaten.

Division Four is currently led by Bickleigh but Honiton Town 2nds can move to within two points if they win their game in hand, while Cheriton Fitzpaine and Chagford face a fight to pull clear of the relegation places.

Starcross Dons are a huge 12 points clear of the rest in Division Five and the battle in Division Six looks to be a shoot-out between two clubs, Otterton and Railway FC. Uplowman Athletic are top of Division Seven but this is an incredibly tight league with North Tawton, in fourth, just one point behind the leaders.

Division Eight will serve up some cracking ties in 2024 and something will have to give in the top three, with Alphington 3rds, Heavitree United 2nds and Lympstone 2nds all still unbeaten.

In the County Cup competitions, University 3rds continue their defence of the Devon Senior Cup in February, when they travel to Central in the quarter-finals. Halwill and Hatherleigh Town are also in the last eight. City Raiders, Starcross Dons and Railway FC are flying the flag for the league in the Devon Intermediate Cup.