TEIGNMOUTH have written themselves an invite to their own party by beating PAFC FITC Development in the semi-finals of the Devon Football League Mini-Tournament last night.

Calum Robinson’s sixth-minute tap-in was enough to earn the Teigns a 1-0 win, and with it a spot in the competition’s final at Coombe Valley on Saturday.

Liam Jones’ men could well have been a goal behind just moments before they took the lead at Coach Road.

Custodian Richard Virgin was forced into an excellent reflex save to deny Argyle’s Josh Johnson following a defensive error.

But they would get the breakthrough via a set-piece at the other end. With centre-forward Ash Donohue making a nuisance of himself, keeper Jake Mead-Crebbin couldn’t claim the delivery and Robinson was left to tuck the ball into an empty net.

Argyle came back and applied some pressure of their own, with Haydn Purslove’s dangerous cross needing close attention from Virgin and Tom Huyton flashing a long-range effort wide.

Teignmouth’s best chance to double their lead fell to Donohue, whose fancy footwork in the penalty area saw him unleash an effort which was well saved by Mead-Crebbin.

And the Teigns would almost live to regret that missed opportunity as Argyle saw a huge chance to get back into the game go begging just two minutes into the second half.

Virgin could only stand and watch as Cowan Wilson’s dipping effort came back off the crossbar and straight to Johnson – but the Argyle frontman couldn’t find the target with the goal at his mercy.

Stuart Bowker and Brad Breslan were entered into the fray by Jones midway through the second half and were soon causing problems for the Argyle defence.

Breslan saw a dangerous cross tipped behind for a corner before being inches away from connecting with a free header.

The two sides traded half-chances as the game reached its final stages and Argyle probed for an equaliser.

But the Teigns would stand firm to book themselves a spot in Saturday’s final – with only a late Isaac Reed booking to show for their troubles.

Although admitting that his side didn’t produce their best stuff on the night, Jones couldn’t hide his happiness at nailing down a spot in a final on home soil.

‘It was a bit of a weird one with the added pressure of knowing it’s at our place,’ he said. ‘I had to put that pressure on the lads, and rightly so because I think they should probably take that on board.

‘We’ve got the job done. We weren’t at our best but ultimately it’s a semi-final, it’s knockout football and it’s all about a win.

‘The clean sheet is pleasing, and we find ourselves in the final which is great.’

Jones was planning on conducting a bit of a scouting exercise this evening, but had to change his plans after it emerged that the other semi-final would be behind closed doors.

‘The players will now not worry,’ he explained. ‘They will just turn up on Saturday.

‘I was hoping to go to the University versus Spurs tomorrow, but I’m told there’s no spectators on campus.

‘That’s a bit disappointing because I would’ve quite liked to go and see that game for obvious reasons.

‘So we’ll prepare blind again. But if it’s the University we’re fully aware of what they pose and if its the Spurs it’s a little bit of an unknown – and we would’ve made it all the way through the tournament without playing anyone who sits on our side of the normal league set-up.’

The Teigns will have home comforts for Saturday’s final. With the weather forecast looking good, Jones is excited at the prospect of a good crowd.

‘For the club it’s huge,’ he said. ‘We’re making huge strides off the pitch, so for us to then get to host the final and hopefully get a couple of hundred people in the Valley to see what we’re doing on and off the pitch is fantastic.’

Teignmouth will take on either the University of Exeter or Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves in Saturday’s match, with the two other semi-finalists due to face off tonight.