Ilsington Villa pull clear in search for a Moorland title

The Torbay Clearance Services South Devon League sprung back into action following two weeks that were littered with postponements, 139 goals from 25 games and plenty of Monday morning talking points for the workplace.

In the game of the day at the top of the Premier Division, Ilsington Villa moved three points clear with a fantastic 3-1 victory over Newton Abbot Spurs at the Rec. Goals from Jack and Daniel Langford aided by a superb strike from Jack Dixon gives the current champions a bit of breathing space with just six games to play.

Strangely enough, it was a game that Spurs could afford to lose and they remain well placed with ten games remaining and eleven points behind.

The shock result was down at Elburton Villa, who were bottom of the league at the start of play but secured an amazing 3-0 win over Buckfastleigh Rangers with goals from Kai Foster and Keiron Roberts, which moved them out of the bottom two for now and the battle to stay in the top division is very much between three teams.

There were some delayed cup ties that finally got played and, whilst Waldon Athletic showed their class with a 6-1 win at Division Three outfit South Brent, Plymouth True Blues from Division One were taken to extra time by Premier League East Allington United or was it the other way around!

It took a couple of substitutions by the True Blues to find the goals, Ben Woodman and Raine Chinnock both came off the bench to put the Plymouth side into the last eight of the Herald Cup.

The two teams at the bottom of the Premier Division both met in the cup at Loddiswell, the home of Beesands Rovers, but it was the visitors from Chudleigh Athletic who forced extra time and came out of the South Hams with a 5-3 win that not only puts them in the next round but also builds confidence for the team moving forward.

In the Premier Division Belli Cup, Paignton Saints had arguably the best result of the day, drawing 1-1 with Kingsteignton Athletic after extra time. The dreaded penalty shootout produced a 4-2 win for the Saints and gives them a cup semi-final to enjoy, and the Rams needing to win at Phoenix next week to keep some cup interest at the club.

The big scorers in Division One were Bovey Tracey, who were looking for a reaction after last week’s reverse, and it took them 23 seconds to open the scoring in an 8-1 win at Buckland Athletic.

The goals came from man of the match John Agpoon, who scored four, with Sam Barnes adding a hat-trick and a single from Tom Mudge moving the Moorland side into second place in a league that is still very tight at the top.

And it’s even closer at the bottom, Ivybridge Town remain in last place but they will be boosted with their 3-2 win at Watcombe Wanderers, Lewis Woodmore and Zac Steele were on target for the Greens but the points were won with a battling second-half performance from the visitors.

Watts Blake Bearne were in action for the first time in 2025 having come close to folding, the new look Claymen took all three points from Brixham Town.

Mark Griffiths, rolling back the years, was the targetman for Town but goals from Cam Hooper and Kyle Gurney, plus a debut to remember for 16 year-old Max Smith in the Wattsies goal, was just enough to win the points for the visitors and move them five points clear of the drop zone.

As for Brixham Town, they have two games in hand on the team above them and are just five points from mid-table, and with nine games still to play, there are more than enough points on offer.

In the Herald Cup, a delayed third round game went ahead and to form, Windmill made it through after a bruising 3-2 home win against Division Three outfit Ashburton, and now await the outcome of the Bovey Tracey v Ivybridge game to find their quarter-final opponents.

In the Division One Dartmouth Cup, Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds were 3-1 in front at half time against Plymouth Phoenix thanks to goals from Albie Baker and Loius Green but threw away the two-goal advantage in the second half and Phoenix managed to force extra time in which Cameron Mackie and J.J Honeywell scored to put the visitors into another semi-final and cause them a backlog in league fixtures.

In Division Two, it was top versus bottom and true to form, Barton Athletic moved 15 points clear at the top with five games to play. A 5-0 win over Ipplepen Athletic made for a comfortable afternoon at Barton Downs and begs the question: would you rather have the points or the games in hand?

Paignton Villa 2nds moved into third place and put a dent in East Allington’s promotion hopes, a 4-0 home win for Villa leaves them with not enough games in hand to make up the difference, but the Pirates are 20 points behind with six games in hand.

Liverton United had a close 2-1 victory at Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds and the win leaves them 17 points behind and with six games in hand. Babbacombe Corries also had a good win on the road, a 4-1 success at Newton Rovers thanks to goals from Ben and Lee Mcarthur, James Houghton and Daniel Loughton keeping them level on points and games with Paignton Villa.

In the Division Three Ronald Cup game that has been postponed since Valentine’s Day, there was certainly no love lost in the top-of-the-table tie between Drake FC and Stoke Gabriel TP. The game started with 22 players on the pitch and finished with 18, and a 3-2 win for the visitors, plus an expensive afternoon playing recreational football for four of the players.

Goals from Daniel Tresize, Mitch Macmillan, Max Prestwood and Phattanawit Buntam was enough to put the Bees into the semi-final. Newton Abbot 66 2nds also made it through to the semis with a 4-2 win at Brixham Town 2nds.

In the only league game to be played, Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds moved into fourth place with a comfortable 5-0 win over Paignton Saints 3rds. Keiron Hale was on target twice and Ryan Sanders, Ashton Hogarth and Finley Lumgair also found the net.

Division Four was reduced to just four cup ties that saw unbeaten Kingskerswell stroll past Barton Athletic 2nds by 4 goals to 1. Templar Way also had a comfortable afternoon versus Kingsbridge and Kellaton Utd with a 6-0 victory.

Paignton Villa 3rds also made it into the semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Waldon Athletic 3rds, who now have just one fixture remaining to finish their season.

The last quarter-final game to report was a tough local derby between Teign Village and Chudleigh Athletic 2nds but goals from Daniel Martin and Charlie Forey were just enough to drown out the noise from the villagers and put Chudleigh into the semi-finals.

Games to catch on Saturday, March 8.

There are a host of interesting games to catch this week. If you are heading to a game in Plymouth, the Division One clash at Millenium pitches between Windmill and Bovey Tracey could decide who takes an advantage in the race for Premier Division football next season or the Division Three promotion clash at Manadon Sports Centre, where Drake FC meet Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds.

The first silverware of the season could be witnessed at Broadhempston United, where visitors Kingskerswell could wrap up the Division Four title with a win, but my game of the day is in the Premier Division at Osborne Park, where Newton Abbot 66 clash with Buckfastleigh Rangers in a game that the away team must win to stay in contention.

And finally good luck to the three South Devon League teams that have reached the semi-finals of the County Senior Cup, where the league is guaranteed a finalist, as Mount Gould host Plymouth Phoenix, while in the other tie, Plymouth True Blues welcome Exeter University.

All fixtures and kick off times can be seen on the FA full-time website, click on full time then search South Devon Football League.

Enjoy your spring grassroots football.