BOVEY Tracey AFC faced a pair of home fixtures in the week beginning Monday, August 17.

First to visit the Moorlanders at the Western Counties Roofing Ground were Brixham AFC for a Devon derby on the Tuesday evening.

The two sides were two levels apart last season but with Bovey being promoted and Brixham dropping down, it was now time for their paths to cross.

Skipper Owen Stockton put the hosts in front within five minutes from a Jadore Lawson throw and the tricky winger then set Rudi McKinnon up for Bovey’s second.

Ryan Beattie struck before the break to halve the deficit for the Fishermen who then stormed into the lead thanks to second-half goals from Charlie Johansen and Reece Somers.

Bovey weren’t out of it though as Josh Webber made it 3-3 before substitute Zico Kendall picked out the top corner in the final minutes to secure a huge three points for his side.

Speaking after the game on the club’s social media channels, manager Ben Gerring said: “We needed that. [It was a] rollercoaster of a game.

“We had complete control for 20 minutes, found ourselves 2-0 up and deservedly so, the second goal in particular, the pass from Jadore and the composure from Rudi, it’s what we’ve been crying out for.”

Then, “What a moment of quality for both the third and fourth goals, unbelievable.”

Saltash United were the next visitors, making the trip on Saturday 22, and it was the Cornish side who broke the deadlock.

They doubled their lead just before half-time and in the words of Gerring, Bovey “switched off twice and cost ourselves with schoolboy defending.”

He also said: “If they can’t see the problems they’re causing us and themselves then the results won’t change,” when discussing both the defending and the fact that Stuart Bowker was subbed on at the break only to be sin-binned minutes later.

“Performance wise I was very happy” but “I’m sick of the goals that we’re conceding.”

It doesn’t get any easier for Bovey as they head to Torpoint Athletic on Saturday, August 29, whilst Buckland Athletic, who haven’t played since they won away at Newquay AFC on the 15th, host Bridgwater United at The VX3 Stadium.