BOVEY Tracey AFC’s 3-2 defeat at Cullompton Rangers on the weekend was only delaying the inevitable and just three days later, they were confirmed as champions.

The Moorlanders travelled to Crediton United on Tuesday, April 21, knowing even a point would be enough but they blew the opposition away, as has been a common theme this season.

It took 22 minutes for Bovey to open the scoring at Lords Meadow and the most in-form player in the league was the one to find the net.

Between late March and early April, they scored 27 goals in three games and 12 of them came from Levi Landricombe.

He has since notched both in the win at Ilfracombe Town and once in the defeat to Cully so it was no surprise that he was back at it again.

Landricombe would go on to score a first-half hat-trick and he was joined on the scoresheet by fellow striker Stuart Bowker. Crediton did get one back before the break but at 4-1, they were still up against it.

Bowker made it five and Landricombe made it six before substitute Ollie Aplin got in on the fun late on, rounding out a 7-1 victory.

The writing was on the wall when Landricombe made it 2-0 after 30 minutes but the referee’s final whistle was the clincher, securing Bovey the title and a spot in the Western League for next year.

They will be able to reignite the rivalry we saw with Buckland Athletic in the St Luke’s Challenge Cup as well as facing Devon derbies against Ivybridge Town and newly-relegated duo Brixham AFC and Tavistock AFC.

Bovey Tracey AFC’s full celebrations will have to be put on hold for now though as they travel to Teignmouth AFC tonight before completing their league campaign on Saturday, at the Western Counties Roofing Ground against Ilminster Town. The league have confirmed that the trophy lift will take place then.

On the topic of the aforementioned St Luke’s Challenge Cup though and a treble is still on the cards for the Moorlanders.

Liskeard Athletic, the runaway leaders of the SWPL Premier West, are their opponents for the WCP League Cup final on Tuesday, April 28, at the home of Callington Town.

Then, on Wednesday, May 6, Bovey will go toe-to-toe with Holsworthy at Coach Road, battling it out for challenge cup glory.

Finally, from an individual point of view, Landricombe’s ridiculous form has thrust him into the golden boot conversation and with two games left, he is on course to dethrone Newton Abbot Spurs’ Toby Pullman, who has just one fixture remaining.

Image courtesy of Gary House Photography.