BOVEY Tracey AFC have been champions elect of the SW Peninsula League Premier East division for a while now and their crowning moment is in touching distance.

The Moorlanders knew that a win or draw away at Cullompton Rangers on Saturday, April 18, would be enough to get them over the line so of course, in typical footballing fashion, they returned home empty-handed.

A first-half brace from Callum Chivers had Cully in a commanding position and it got better when he looped a header over Dom Aplin after the break, completing his hat-trick.

It didn’t take long for Bovey to respond to the third though, Ollie Aplin rounding the goalkeeper before converting.

In-form forward Levi Landricombe tucked home a penalty in the 78th minute to setup a grandstand but that crucial goal unfortunately eluded Ben Gerring’s side.

Meanwhile, Bridport FC continue to play their part, beating Torrington AFC by three goals to nil to close the gap to three points.

The team from Dorset have only one game still to play compared to Bovey’s three and the leaders have a far superior goal difference, making their promotion an inevitability. It’s a matter of when and not if.

Bovey Tracey don’t have long to wait for another stab at what they hope will be a title-winning fixture. Tonight (Tuesday 21), they go to Crediton United looking to get the job done.

Games continue to come thick and fast as they visit Teignmouth AFC on Thursday evening before hosting Ilminster Town on Saturday for their final league game of 2025/26.

Ilminster, who currently sit seventh, could finish as high as fifth while 13th-placed Teignmouth are looking to fend off the late advances of a resurgent Bishops Lydeard side. On the whole though, neither club has much to play for in comparison to Bovey.