Glut of goals in thrilling start to SDFL season

On the first weekend of the South Devon League season, we saw 100 goals being scored, and in the second week, it was 176 goals.

The big hitters this week were Watts Blake Bearne who put 13 goals past Brixham AFC in Division 1 and in Division 3, Drake FC scored the same number against Paignton Saints 3rds.

The other stand-out result was in Division 3, where Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds scored 11 goals for the second week in a row, I wonder if they could do it for a 3rd week, now that would be something!

It was business as usual for the Premier Division champions, as Ilsington Villa got their season off to a winning start, a Jack Langford hat-trick ensured the points for the Moorlanders and sets them on their way to retaining the title against Kingsteignton Athletic.

Waldon Athletic continued their good start to the season with a 2-1 win at Beesands Rovers, who have lost their opening two games by the same scoreline. There was better news for Premier new boys Newton Abbot Spurs, who got their first points of the season with a 4-0 victory at Buckfastleigh Rangers, which is never an easy place to go.

One of the other promoted teams, Totnes and Dartington, have maximum points from their first two games, a 2-1 home win versus East Allington Utd just shows there is little to choose between the top two divisions.

Two weeks into the season and only four teams in Division One have maximum points. Last week’s big hitters, Plymouth Pheonix, did not have it their own way in the home game against Ivybridge Town, goals from Ben Woodman and Jamie Grinrod were just enough to scrape a 2-1 win, which suggests they may not run away with this division as some thought but it will take a good performance to beat them.

Plymouth True Blues won 5-1 for the second week running, goals from William Stringer, Micheal Storey, Sam Cooper and Mick Storey eased them passed a young Buckland Athletic team.

Brixham Town had a good result in their opening game, a 3-0 win at Watcombe Wanderers sets them on their way to go one better this season. Bovey Tracey complete the foursome on maximum points, a comfortable 4-0 win versus Paignton Villa thanks to goals from Alister Chuchuk, Oliver Cliff Bourne and Ben Moyle who was a real pain in the Paignton Villa defence all afternoon keeps them on track.

The Windmill managed to put their points on the board with a 6-1 triumph at Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds, Louis Green was on target for Spurs but the Plymouth team, hurting after their defeat on opening day, proved too strong.

The big scorers of the day were WBB who put 13 goals past a very young Brixham AFC team who conceded 11 last week, there were hat tricks for Micheal Turner and Kyle Gurney, doubles for Sam Stowell and Sam Pearce with singles for Sam Bannister, Ryan Clark and Jamie Orchard, so points on the board for Wattsies and a lot of confidence moving forward.

Incredibly, in Division Two, only three teams have maximum points after two weeks, which suggests a good competition. Mount Gould finally got a game under their hats in the Torbay Clearance Services League after last week’s disappointment and it was not a happy journey for Newton Rovers who conceded eight goals, a Joe Jasper hat-trick and a double from Sam Tattersall assisted with singles from Dan Harris, Joshua Bance, Matt Hill and Arron Spear secured the points and as expected they look the team to beat in this division.

Barton Athletic also have six points from two games, a 4-1 win at Coach Road against Paignton Saints 2nds thanks to goals from Connor Adamson, James Thomas, Liam Walton and Oakley Hunt who also saw yellow in the first minute of the game.

In fact, it was not a good weekend for the three Saints teams, who between them conceded 26 goals, now that must be a first and hopefully a last. Harbertonford complete the threesome of unbeaten teams in Division Two, a fine 3-1 victory over Upton Athletic thanks to goals from Sam Fenegan, Alan Hamlett and Luke Collens.

Liverton Utd, Paignton Villa 2nds and Watcombe Wanderers 2nds all put points on the board with a first win and the latter with a 10-0 home win versus Ipplepen Athletic 2nds.

In Division Three, the top four teams were all promoted from Division Four and it looks like they are going to battle it out in this division. Kingsteinton Athletic 2nds scored 11 goals for the second week, this week Brixham Town 2nds were the victims of hat-tricks from Billy Bristow and Mark Prowse and singles from Finlay Lumgar, Raymond Lawal, Jack Lee and Louis Dickenson rolling back the years.

Drake FC went two better in scoring 13 goals against Paignton Saints 3rds, Louis George was on target five times and Ashley Walker scored a hat-trick before getting his name in the referees notebook.

Elburton Villa 3rds were also high scorers, just the twelve goals at South Brent keeps them on maximum points, not bad for an under 18 team from last year’s County Youth League. The final team in this division yet to slip up are Liverton Utd 2nds, a 5-0 win at Waldon Athletic 2nds thanks to doubles from Shane Essam and Oliver West, and a Matt Way effort secured the points for Livvy.

Division Four this week was all about the new teams making their SDFL debuts, Whilst Kingskerswell have not played in the competition for two years since disbanding the adult section of the club, chairman Paul Edwards felt the time was right and the players and manager were in place to give adult football another go.

Well, after finding out their clubhouse had been double booked for Saturday, they acted quickly and secured the all-weather pitch at South Devon College to get the game on and as they say it all worked out well in the end. A 5-1 win against Watcombe Wanderers 3rds gets them up and running and looking forward to their next outing at Loddiswell on September 14 to face Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd.

The other team not only making their SDFL debut but their first game in Saturday football, Templar Way FC have switched from the Exeter Sunday league to see how competitive they can be in the Saturday game. Once again, it all ended up well, a 4-3 home win at Micheals Field against an experienced Teign Village side who got off to a winning start last week has put the first points on the board for the new boys.

Chris Bennett was the star of the show with a Saturday hat-trick and there was a single strike from Jamie Bowen, the team were also able to use four substitutes to get them over the line and looking forward to a trip to town on September 14 to face Newton Rovers 2nds at Bakers Park.

Both Broadhempston Utd and Newton Rovers 2nds remain with maximum points after two games, so the game at Bakers Park will have more than just three points riding on it.

In the Premier Division, Paignton Saints lock horns with their former Devon League rivals Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds at Coach Road and just two weeks after winning 2-1 at Beesands on the opening day, Totnes and Dartington host the South Hams team at Dartington in the return fixture.

Also in the top division, Buckfastleigh Rangers host East Allington Utd. There is a local derby at Barton Downs, where Barton Athletic welcome Upton Athletic and Kingsteignton Athletic are at home to Ashburton at Broadpark, both teams have had good starts to the season.

A number of South Devon League games have been postponed to give way to the County Cups and a couple of games that stand out, Bovey Tracey face Division One rivals Windmill FC and just down the road at Liverton they face East Budleigh from the Exeter league, these two KO at 2pm.

Enjoy your grassroots football.