Strange weekend of upsets in the South Devon Football League

Sixes win the Newton Abbot derby, T and D win at Lakeside, Saints put five past Ilsington and True Blues who go top for the first time. But hey, its just another Saturday in the South Devon League.

Plymouth True Blues lead the way into October at the top of the Premier Division thanks to a very close game at Chudleigh Athletic, just one goal separated the sides courtesy of a Bailey Williams strike and for the second week in a row Chudleigh will be kicking themselves to come away from a game pointless.

In the Newton Abbot derby, it was 66 that came out on top with a 2-1 win over near neighbours Spurs, thanks to a Tom Lowe double strike. It is incredible that after just two games, Sixes are the only Premier team with a 100% record.

And now for the eyebrow raising results, Kingsteignton Athletic dropped their first points of the season with a 1-0 home defeat to East Allington United, a single goal from Ben Taylor was enough for the points to head back to the South Hams.

At Coach Road, Paignton Saints had a great result in upsetting Ilsington Villa in a nine-goal thriller, which included four goals from Jake Powell and a single from Brandon Kelly. Saints swept into a three-goal lead within 13 minutes of KO, whilst Villa will be pleased that new signing Callum Noyce continues to bang in the goals but his hat-trick and the fact that they ended the game with less players than they started with will no doubt leave a bittersweet taste.

The penultimate report from the Premier Division is all about Totnes and Dartington, who picked up their first points of the season with an acca-killer result, baring in mind that Lakeside Athletic had only lost two league games in three years.

This loss made it two defeats in three weeks in the Torbay Clearance top division, a fantastic 2-1 win for the visitors with goals from Harri Hardy and Josh Squire will no doubt help Jono Beardsmore sleep well this week.

The final game in the Premier Division was at Millenium fields, where Windmill put ten goals past a Buckfastleigh Rangers side that are not having the best of times but will hopefully overcome the challenges.

In Division One, only Mount Gould have a 100% record and they cruised past Liverton Utd with a 6-1 scoreline thanks to Aaron and Ray Spear, Bentley Alcantara and Jack Trigger.

At the top, Brixham Town and Watts Blake Bearne are neck and neck after four outings and both had to go the extra mile to pick up maximum points this week, Town won 3-2 against a good Barton Athletic side at JC Park to remain heading in the right direction.

And WBB looked to be sharing the points at home to Watcombe Wanderers, who did more than enough to win the game until Cam Gill hit the winner 10 minutes from time to give Darren and Dexter a good start to the season and something to build on.

Beesands Rovers got back to winning ways thanks to a tight 3-2 success against Paignton Villa, goals from Jack Eades, Joe Tucker and Ollie Mitchell were enough for the points to head back to the South Hams.

Elburton Villa also picked up their first win of the 25/26 season with a comfortable 5-1 win versus Buckland Athletic at Haye Road.

Just to put this division into some context, Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds have only played one game due to postponements and free weeks, and they are the only team that have not won a game, so this is looking like a division where any team can beat any team, and apart from Mount Gould, they have.

Division Two is also shaping up for a good competition. After four games, only two have not won a game and only Ivybridge Town and Babbacombe Corries have an unbeaten record.

The Ivies had a fairly comfortable afternoon in a game that was played without an official referee, a 4-1 win at Bakers Park at the hands of Newton Rovers was enough to take the points back down the A38.

Goals from Joshua Hill and Daniel Jones made sure of another victory for Corries against Paignton Saints 2nds but they had to work for the 3-2 win and the two goals they conceded were the first of the season, so the Corries ‘keeper falls from grace in the golden glove race.

Drake FC are one of four teams level on nine points and they had to work hard for their 4-3 win at East Allington United 2nds, as did Signal Box, who won at home to Ashburton by the odd goal in three. On target for the Plymouth side were Ryan Morgan and Paul Tompson.

The final team on nine points are Paignton Villa 2nds, who just edged a 1-0 win at Long Lane against a new-look Watcombe Wanderers 2nd team to keep themselves well placed.

Division Three is going with the pre-season predictions that Kingskerswell and Galmpton United would be the two teams to beat and both continue to be upwardly mobile.

Kerswell won 4-0 at Halford against an experienced Liverton United side and Galmpton won the local derby versus Stoke Gabriel TP by 4 goals to 1, Harley Hooper scored a brace with singles from Jack Rowell and Daniel White.

Kingsteignton Athletic 2nds and South Brent had a pleasant afternoon sharing a 0-0 draw and Templar Way seem to have been reborn for this season, a 5-2 triumph at Totnes and Dartington 2nds puts them in the top four.

Newton Abbot 66 2nds enjoyed another victory, this time a 3-1 success at Ipplepen Athletic 2nds puts them level on points with Templar and Liverton.

Division Four is also going with the pre-season predictions that Teign Village and Chudleigh Athletic 2nds would dominate and all eyes would be on the unknown in Bere Alston’s under 18 side from last season.

In a day of 75-year celebrations for the club the 2nds, delivered a 2-1 win over Kingsbridge and Kellaton United, while just up the road, Teign Village enjoyed a 5-1 win versus Newton Rovers 2nds. Both results keep the Clarets and Village clear at the top.

Leading the chasing pack are Bere Alston 2nds, who had an easy time of it at Broadhempston United, where Adam and Steve Daymond scored five goals between them and Charlie Spry got a single strike to take the points down the A38 then up the A386!

Brixham Town 2nds got their first win of the season, a 6-3 triumph at Paignton Saints 3rds was just what the Fishermen needed to get the season up and running.

The pick of the games this week is at Millbay Park, where True Blues welcome Newton Abbot 66 for the first meeting between the teams. With True Blues in top spot and Sixes unbeaten, something has to give.

Kingsteignton Athletic host what could be a nervous Lakeside team at Broadpark, the teams met in the Herald Cup last season and only one goal separated them, so it should be a cracker.

In Division One there are a few games that will be worth a watch but the reserve teams from Buckland Athletic versus Bovey Tracey meet at Homers Heath and Watcombe Wanderers play Brixham Town at Long Lane in what will be a colourful event.

The games of the day in Division Two are at White Rock, where Paignton Villa 2nds welcome Signal Box for the first time and top of the table Ivybridge Town play Harbertonford in what is as close to a Plymouth derby for both sets of players.

My pick of the bunch in Division Three is at Micheals Field, where Templar Way play a Stoke Gabriel TP side much in need of a promotion season and Galmpton United have a tricky game versus a young Kingsteignton Athletic reserve side.

Division Four also has a couple of games worthy of a watch. At White Rock, Paignton Villa 3rds play a Teign Village team in no mood to miss out on promotion this season and down at Loddiswell, Kingsbridge /Kellaton United play Bere Alston United for the first time in both clubs history.

Enjoy your grassroots football.