Pressure heats up for South Devon League clubs

With only two Saturdays remaining in the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon League, most clubs are now cranking through their remaining games on a school night, allowing clubs to use all resources available to them.

On Tuesday in the Premier Division, Waldon Athletic, who are going for a top five finish completed their fixtures with a 3-2 win over Herald Cup winners Newton Abbot 66, goals from Cole Feasby, Louis Roberts and Frank Major rounds off a good season for the Torquay side.

In the race for the runner-up spot, Morley Rangers slipped up at home to Beesands Rovers, 3-2, this result will be of interest to Buckfastleigh Rangers and Kingsteignton Athletic, who are taking it to the wire.

Champions Ilsington Villa got back to winning ways after their Herald cup final disappointment with a 3-2 win against in-form Elburton Villa.

Division One has been a fantastic competition this season and the two teams that moved leagues last year from the Devon Football League have been made to work in this competition but things are looking as if they may both clinch a promotion berth.

But, as they say, no fat ladies are singing just yet.

Totnes and Dartington closed off their season with a 2-1 win versus relegated Buckfastleigh Rangers reserves, a result which returns them to the top and they will have to wait and see for the other results. James Blackshaw and Jack Whitby were on target for Totnes.

Newton Abbot Spurs are now five points off second place with two games in hand following an 8-2 victory against Paignton Villa, that man Callum Noyce was at it again with another hat trick and his introduction into the club’s reserve team will have an impact on the outcome of this division.

Brixham Town have secured a top five place and their 2-1 win at Buckland Athletic rounds off a great first season in Division One.

Three games in Division Three that affect the top teams, as Watcombe Wanderers and Ashburton had a bore draw, meaning the Greens can win the title with a win at Teign Village on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Liverton United moved into third place with a 2-1 win at rivals South Brent, both of these teams can finish second and hot on their heels, another club using resources available to them in an attempt to get fourth place, Stoke Gabriel TP were able to call on Saul Vanes, who scored a hat trick in a 7-3 win over promotion hopefuls Totnes and Dartington reserves, who were disappointed that he has now decided to play recreational football.

Totnes have now lost their last two games, which has effectively taken them out of the promotion race.

At the top of Division Four, Liverton reserves have moved nine points clear of Elburton Villa 3rds, who have four games in hand after a 10-1 demolition at Watcombe Wanderers 3rds.

On Wednesday in the Premier Division, Buckfastleigh Rangers wrapped up their season by going seven points clear into second place with a 3-1 win over East Allington, courtesy of goals from Tom Moody and Charlie Morgan (2).

Only Morley Rangers or Kingsteignton Athletic can pinch the runners-up spot from the Greens, whilst East Allington will no doubt have a few discussions about how far short of expectations they fell from their normal top-half finish.

In Division One, Ivybridge Town won their penultimate game with an unconvincing 2-1 win over Babbacombe Corries, which puts them into second place and five points ahead of Newton Abbot Spurs, who have three games in hand, the two meet next week in a must-win game for Ivybridge.

As for Corries, they have one game left to secure a point to stay in Division One and that is on May 25 against Newton Abbot Spurs, who could claim the title if they win and other results go their way before then.

One interesting result on Thursday in Division Two was the 3-2 victory for Paignton Saints reserves at Bovey Tracey, a Keiron Sweet hat-trick not only secured third place in the league for Saints, it also inflicted the first defeat of the season for the Moorlanders, who at full time were asking each other what just happened.

Whilst falling one point short of the runner-up spot, Saints must be delighted with winning two cups and a top three place following relegation last season.

The big game of the week was on Friday at Dartington Hall, where regular cup finalists and Herald cup holders Newton Abbot 66 took on an Elburton Villa team looking for their first silverware since switching from the Plymouth league to the South Devon League.

66 knew it would be a noisy affair when the 53-seater supporters coach arrived and they did not disappoint with their support before during and after the game.

The game itself could have gone either way and the referee had a busy night with eight yellow cards, four of which were shown to each of the Elburton Villa defenders, which tells its own story.

By the time that the Plymouth team had taken the lead in the 28th minute through Marley Cunningham, 66 could have been two goals to the good but it appeared that last week’s hero had left his first choice of boots at home.

The game continued to be scrappy with lots of breaks in play but, once again, 66 always looked as if they could get back into the game and two minutes before the break Ashley Dove, was on the end of a rebound, which he struck into the top of the Elburton net.

The Newton Abbot team appeared to be getting on top and were looking the more likely to get the second goal and they had a big penalty shout waved away by the referee when the Elburton goalkeeper appeared to have flattened Tom Lowe inside the box.

This decision clearly affected the 66 players’ concentration and the yellow cards accompanied those frustrations for foul tackles.

The game looked destined for extra time and possibly penalties but as 66 pushed forward for one last chance to get the winner, they left themselves short at the back and with five minutes left on the clock, Elburton Villa counter attacked and Cody Jones found himself with a one on one with the 66 ‘keeper and cooly slotted home to take the George Belli Cup back to Plymouth.

Saturdays league games that affect promotion and relegation.

In the Premier Division, Morley Rangers had a great 5-3 win at Kingsteignton Athletic with goals from Corbin and Milo Mackin, Dean Jenkins and Micheal Burke to keep their hopes of the runners-up spot but they need to win their last two games.

Kingsteignton can also still get second place if they win their last three games and score 12 goals.

Division One will go to the wire. With Saints and Spurs on County Cup duty, there were no other movements at either end of the table but if they both win their midweek games, they will move into the top two places and claim promotion.

The big game is on Thursday when Spurs host Ivybridge Town, where a win for them would put them top and Saints would need to win their last game to overtake them. All five teams at the top of this division are to be congratulated for making this season one of the most competitive the league has ever seen at this level.

The placings in Division Two are sorted but Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds must wait to find out if the reserve team can get first or second place in Division One to enable them to progress into that division and a big credit to the club for being able to run three successful teams.

Division Three will also go to the wire, title favourites Watcombe Wanderers 2nds will have to wait another week, despite a 4-2 win at Teign Village thanks to goals from Mike Fieldhouse, Kye Graham and Jamie Macintyre, and that is because Ashburton won at home to Kingsbridge and Kellaton by the same scoreline and Liverton beat Newton Abbot 66 reseves by three goals to one.

All three of these teams can get promoted but Watcombe need a point from two games to win the divisional title.

At the bottom, Teign Village must win their final game of the season at Ashburton to stay in this division and send Paignton Saints 3rds into Division Four.

The top two places in Division Four is now between two teams, Liverton reserves wrapped up their season with a comfortable 6-1 win against a Chudleigh team that finished the game with 10 players. Jamie Chaimberlain scored four times and Stephen Rohan got two that puts Livvy on top for now.

Elburton Villa 3rds are nine points behind but have four games to play after their 10 goals to 2 demolition of Broadhempston Utd. Drake FC, who led this league all season, only have two games left, so will probably have to settle for third place.

A massive week in the South Devon League coming up, don’t miss these games.

Tuesday, May 21, 7pm Kingsteignton Ath v Ilsington Villa, A classic Premier League game.

Thursday, May 23, 6.30pm, Division Three Ronald Cup Final at Liverton United. Stoke Gabriel TP V Watcombe Wanderers 2nds.

Thursday, May 23, 6.30pm Division One promotion decider, Newton Abbot Spurs v Ivybridge Town.

Friday, May 24, 7pm Division One Dartmouth Cup Final at Stoke Gabriel. Paignton Villa v Buckland Athletic.

Enjoy your football in the penultimate week.