ON SUNDAY, September 14, the South Devon Walking Football League held the first of its league meetings at its Coach Road, Newton Abbot HQ, reports Rob Morson.

Following a triumph in winning the over-60s championship at the International tournament in St. Pitcairn in SW France, Teignmouth’s two Drifters teams fielded weakened teams due to illness.

Expectations were lowered but both teams showed immense determination, some great individual attacking skills and brilliant collective defensive play from all players.

In the first match in the Premier Division, Drifters A lost by one goal to nil against Exeter St. Martin’s due to a sluggish opening two minutes when the goal was conceded.

After that came the grit and determination to limit the damage and try to sneak an equalizer. They didn’t succeed but were much buoyed by the strength they’d shown.

Next, against Torquay’s Yellow team, the Drifter’s levels of commitment grew, with special bravery and skill shown by Hugo Doswald in goal; a goalless draw the result.

The third game, against a predictably robust Plymouth side, was a more fluid affair with lots of attractive football played by both sides. Teign Drifters probably should have won with a couple of slim chances missed, another goalless score resulted.

Drifters A showed how much they were missing key players as a talented Kingsteignton side put four goals past them with no reply forthcoming.

However, in the final game of the day, Drifters got their mojo back and fought hard to keep a clean sheet whilst coming close to a winning goal… but it ended in a luckless and goalless draw.

Meanwhile, Drifters B got their day’s proceedings off to a great start with a victory against Torquay Blues.

First blood to Torquay with a very early goal. Then, after missing an immediate chance to equalise, forward Mark Janes scored the goal of the day, in this writer’s view, with a sinuous solo run to goal, avoiding all tackles and with a cleverly placed shot from the outside of his right foot, he sent the keeper the wrong way. A fabulous equaliser!

Ian Pybus added a second from the penalty spot and Mark Janes added his second goal when the ball came back off their keeper for an easy third goal. 3-1 final score.

Against a strong Plymouth side, the Drifters fought hard but went down 1-0 to a cleverly taken shot following a free kick close to the Drifters’ goal line.

Another victory came in the third game against Horrabridge B. Ian Pybus this time showing cool control near the Horrabridge goal line, sending the keeper the wrong way to slot the ball into the bottom corner.

The fourth game was against the second and stronger Horrabridge A team. The opposition’s quality got them a narrow victory in a tight game with a single goal the difference: a defeat 0-1.

The final game against Exeter Strollers was a testy affair with Drifters hanging on against the odds to a goalless draw.

So, it was a day when absent teammates were sorely missed, but equally, one where the collective determination of all players saw both teams through to reasonably satisfactory conclusions.