Century of goals kick-off new SDFL season

Free Saturday afternoon entertainment returned to the playing fields of South Devon this week as the Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League kicked off its 122nd football season with a bang.

With 20 of the teams choosing not to play on 31/08, it’s incredible to report that the ones that did play banged in 100 goals between them and a big shout out to Kingsteignton Athletic reserves and league new boys Plymouth Pheonix who topped the goals charts with 11 goals each to put them top of their divisions.

In the Premier League, newly promoted Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds did not get the welcome they wanted at Waldon Athletic, the Clarets coasted a 4-1 home win to set the pace and remind the visitors that life in the top division will be different to what they have been used to.

Herald Cup winners Newton Abbot 66 also got off to a winning start at Elburton Villa 2nds, a 3-1 victory thanks to goals from Liam Ashwell put points on the board for the sixes and keeps Geeman happy for at least a week!

Elsewhere in the top division, newly promoted Totnes and Dartington got their season off to a positive start with a 2-1 win at Beesands Rovers who have started the season without their top goalscorer Ashley Yeoman who has retired from football. After this early setback, somebody will need to step into his shoes. Harri Hardy and Oli Corderoy were on target for T and D.

Buckfastleigh Rangers also got their season up and running with a 2-1 home win in the first A38 derby of the season against Chudleigh Athletic and will give new manager Sean Hawkins confidence that he can get the best out of a good team.

Many South Devon League supporters have a view that Division One is as strong as the Premier Division and this season is going to provide some top-class games. In particular, the new teams joining the competition from the Plymouth and West Devon league will certainly add some extra spice to the division, as did the teams that joined from the Devon League last season.

Plymouth Pheonix must be wondering what all the fuss is about after their 11-1 demolition at Brixham AFC. It has to be said that a lot of the more experienced Brixham players are still playing cricket and just two hours before kick-off, the home team only had eight players but managed to get a scratch team together who must have been wishing they all played cricket.

The visitors were just too strong on the day for the young Fishermen and both teams will have more competitive games as the season progresses. A big shout out to the Brixham ‘keeper Dan Gillard who had a great game between the sticks and could not have done much about the goals.

The big game in this division was the first of six Plymouth derbies this season and True Blues came out on top versus Windmill by 5 goals to 1. True Blues are a branch of the Glasgow Rangers supporters club and I am told they bring plenty of colour to their games, apart from that any team that beats Windmill will surely be worth watching.

Staying in the west, Ivybridge Town, who missed out on promotion by just one point last season, started with a 3-0 home win versus Paignton Villa. Dan Hodgson, Joe Truelove and Jayden White were on target for the Ivys who will be looking to go one better this season.

Newly promoted Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds had a great first day of the new season, a 3-0 win against a strong Watcombe team thanks to goals from Devon Webb and Louis Green was certainly an eyebrow raising result and with the support of a big squad, they could be the surprise package in Division One.

The other promoted team, Bovey Tracey, also got off to a winning start, a 2-1 victory over local rivals Watts Blake Bearne will settle the Moorlanders following a change of management in the closed season.

In Division Two, James Houghton was the star of the show as Babbacombe Corries enjoyed their biggest win in years as they trounced Ipplepen Ath 2nds 8-0, James scored six of the goals and I am told he struggled to get into the changing room after the game!  Spencer Artz got the other two goals to give Corries a perfect start in this division following relegation last term.

Pre-season favourites Barton Athletic also got off to a winning start, last season’s top scorer Zach Norton got them on their way and substitute Morgan Steer may well be pushing for a start next week after coming on and scoring twice to finish off Paignton Villa 2nds.

The shock result in Division Two must have been at Halford where promoted Liverton Utd lost 3-2 to relegated Upton Athletic, goals from Kofi Shaw (2) and Nathen Crook won the points for the Torquay legends, also nice to see that Upton stalwart Andrew Walker still gets on the team sheet, unfortunately he also found his way into the referees note book.

Paignton Saints 2nds finish off the list of teams that made a winning start to the campaign, a 2-1 home win versus Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds with goals from Jack Cumston and Harvey Veysey enough to put the early points on the board and perhaps this could be the season that Saints get the promotion that is deserved.

The other favourites in this division, Mount Gould, were gifted three points as Watcombe Wanderers 2nds could not raise a team.

In Division Three, the joint highest scorers of the day were Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds who put 11 goals past Paignton Saints 3rds to record a perfect start for the newly promoted Rams. Chris Barnett and Ashley Heyworth both hit hat tricks with singles from Tom Reeves, James Perrins, Steven Payne and Luke Mannuel.

Ashburton, also looking to go one better this season after missing out by a point last term, had a perfect start with a 7-0 home win against Newton Abbot 66 2nds with goals from Brandon Hext, Derek Cartmill, James Morris, Adesewa Otomoso and Kameron Pouladdej.

Newly promoted Drake FC also had a 7-0 success at home to Totnes and Dartington 2nds, double strikes from Ashley Walker, Callum Thomas and James Ramsell got the Plymouth-based side up and running for their 2nd season in the SDFL.

Waldon Athletic 2nds took the bare 11 to Brixham Town 2nds and thanks to goals from Terry Hunter, Luke Horseman and Dylan Bailey came away with the points with a 3-2 victory.

The final victorious team in Div 3 was Liverton Utd who made the journey to Elburton Villa 3rds and came away with a 2-1 win, both of these teams got promoted last season and will be looking forward to playing new teams from this week.

Just two games played in Division Four on the opening day, pre-season favourites Broadhempston Utd and Teign Village both won 2-0, Broads over Waldon Athletic 3rds and Village over Chudleigh Athletic 3rds. Good to see two teams that have not enjoyed the best of times in recent seasons get off to a good start and hopefully build some confidence into their respective clubs.

This week’s team of the week: Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds for their 3-0 victory at Watcombe Wanderers in their first game in Division One.

Games to watch on Saturday, September 7.

In the Premier Division, the champions Ilsington Villa get their defence of the title underway and what a way to start their season, a home tie against former champions Kingsteington Athletic.

In Division One, you can pick any one from four stand-out games. Newton Spurs host The Windmill at the Rec, Watcombe Wanderers host Brixham Town at Long Lane, there is a local derby in Plymouth where Pheonix welcome Ivybridge at Devonport High School for Girls. Last season, Watts Blake and Bearne versus Brixham would have been a Premier Division game and both teams will be looking to get points on the board.

In Division Two, Paignton Villa 2nds host Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds where both are going in search of their first points of the season.

In Division Three, there is a top of the table game already at Windmill Hill, where Waldon Athletic 2nds host Liverton Utd, both teams won their opening games and will be looking to push on at the top.

In Division Four, Micheals Field at Bishopsteignton will be the place to be as new boys Templar Way make their SDFL debut after moving from the Exeter Sunday league to Saturday football; theyhost Teign village at their riverside pitch.

All games kick off at 2.30pm and can be viewed on the full time website.