STUART Bowker scored twice as Bovey Tracey AFC moved five points clear at the SW Peninsula League summit on Saturday, October 25.

Thanks to the striker’s double and Newton Abbot Spurs’ 3-2 victory over Bridport FC, Bovey have gone further ahead of the Dorset-based side.

That being said, a mid-week victory for Bridport away at seventh-placed Honiton Town would return the gap to two points for the time being.

It took just eight minutes for the Moorlanders to open the scoring against Ilfracombe Town, Lewis Perring picking out Bowker with a perfect cross.

Ilfracombe hit back and made it 1-1 but the experienced forward headed home a second on the brink of half-time to restore Bovey’s lead at the Western Counties Roofing Ground.

A goalless second half secured an 11th win of the campaign for Ben Gerring’s side, taking their undefeated streak for the campaign to 17 games in all competitions.

South West Peninsula League Premier East. Match action from Bovey Tracey versus Ilfracombe Town. A 2-1 home win for the Moorlanders over their visitors from North Devon
South West Peninsula League Premier East. Match action from Bovey Tracey versus Ilfracombe Town. A 2-1 home win for the Moorlanders over their visitors from North Devon (Steve Pope/MDA)

Meanwhile, Bovey’s South Devon rivals Teignmouth AFC were also at home, welcoming Crediton United to Coombe Valley.

Finn Drew and Isaac Littlejohns scored the goals in a 2-0 win for Creddy, condemning Teignmouth to a ninth defeat of the season.

To make matters worse for Liam Jones’ men, Okehampton Argyle beat rock-bottom Axminster Town and so jumped above them in the standings for the time being.

Bovey and Teignmouth will next be in action on Saturday, November 1, whereas Newton Spurs have the weekend off.

The Archie Gooch Pavilion, home of (ninth-placed) Ilminster Town, is the destination for Bovey Tracey and Teignmouth are at Coombe Valley again, taking on Torridgeside AFC, who sit eighth currently.