PLYMOUTH-based Lakeside Athletic became the first team to book a berth in this season’s Herald Cup Final by beating Watts Blake Bearne by two goals to nil in front of a good Homers Heath crowd (full match report and photos are on davesworld), reports Alastair Muirden.

The Premier Division outfit were bigger and stronger than their Division One opponents.

WBB had chances early in the game but failed to take them and they were punished, JJ Honeywell with the opener. Shortly after, Jaden Wood was doing cartwheels to celebrate his sublime free-kick.

Lakeside await either Ilsington Villa or Paignton Saints in the Plainmoor final with the Saints winning their re-arranged clash against East Allington United.

They pulled off perhaps their best result of the season, winning 4-1 at Coach Road to eliminate the Pirates. Jake Powell, Joe Wilden and Thomas Ross scored their goals.

At the top of the Premier Division, Windmill continue to go about their business and an 8-nil win over Totnes and Dartington puts them 13 points clear with five games to play and needing 10 points to be crowned champions.

Ilsington Villa moved into fifth place and are now one of five teams within two points of second place following a comprehensive 5–1 win over Newton Abbot 66 who are in real danger of playing Division One football next season. Jamie Soper, Matt Warman, Matt Pilkington and Jamie Beer found the net for the Moorlanders.

Kingsteignton Athletic gave themselves some breathing space with a 4–2 win at Chudleigh Athletic and are now four points clear of the drop-zone.

I had to look twice at the results coming in from Division One as they continue to throw up surprises.

Result of the day must go to Barton Athletic who put seven goals past Mount Gould without reply.

Bovey Tracey are another side that could spoil that party and they will be pleased to get back to winning ways after a midweek defeat, a 2–1 success over Paignton Villa at Mill Marsh Park.

There are still six teams that could be promoted from this division and the team with the most games to play are Elburton Villa who have just played only their second league game since October 25.

They have seven games in hand with 15 games to play in seven weeks and a big squad to choose from. Elburton won 2–1 against an improving Buckland Athletic side who are going to take some points from opposition in the final weeks of the season with a new management team looking on.

Brixham Town remain in third place and an 8-nil win versus the rollercoaster team in the division Watcombe Wanderers will be a tonic for the Fishermen who have just 3 games left to end this term.

In the battle at the bottom, the don’t lose email was fully read and understood by both teams as Liverton Utd and Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds shared the points in a 3–3 draw. This result leaves both teams with a chance to stay in the division but there are only two points separating the bottom three who are eight points adrift from safety.

In Division Two, the pre-season favourites Signal Box Oak Villa moved to within three points of the title with a 4-nil win at Ivybridge Town.

It’s their first season in the SDFL and they’ve only lost two league games and three cup games all season. A win for Oak Villa at Harbertonford on April 25 will secure the trophy.

Babbacombe Corries have also had a great season and have pushed Oak Villa all the way. A 9-nil win over a struggling Upton Athletic almost seals second place for them.

Harbertonford increased the gap at the bottom to 11 points by beating Newton Rovers 4–1 goals for Billy Bright, Isaac Phillips and Kyle Northcott looks to have condemned Rovers to Division Three football next season where, undoubtedly, they will have a better year.

Paignton Villa 2nds moved up a place to seventh with a 4–1 victory over East Allington Utd 2nds. Villa should be happy with a mid-table berth in what has been a tough division with some good teams.

The runaway leaders in Division Three continue to plough through their opposition. Galmpton Utd remain on top having played three games more than Kingskerswell who must still be considered favourites for the title.

Galmpton had a 5-nil win at Buckfastleigh Rangers and Kerswell scored ten goals without reply against a South Brent side who still have ten games to play.

There are just two points separating the bottom four teams and one of them is Ipplepen Athletic, who lost 3–1 at Stoke Gabriel TP and with five games left to play, could do with finding a win from one of their four remaining home games.

Newton Abbot 66 reserves have had a great season and with eight games still to play, they will be looking for a top three finish. This week, they won 5-nil against a good Kingsteignton Athletic 2nd team who remain in fourth place with six games to play.

In Division Four, the top two places have been nailed on for some time but Chudleigh Athletic 2nds and Teign Village have not got the job done just yet.

Chudleigh did their bit this week by winning 6–1 at home to Waldon Athletic 3rds and now need just four points from four games to win promotion, depending on lots of permutations from Waldon Ath, Bere Alston Utd and Barton Athletic 2nds who are in a bit of form at the moment.

Barton won 12 – 2 at Paignton Saints 3rds to remain very much in the mix, Charlie Uniacke and Nathen Crook both scored four goals each to keep the pressure on the top two for now.

On Friday evening (Apr 24), Drake FC and Babbacombe Corinthians will go battle in the Lidstone Cup final at Foxhole, kicking off at 6:30pm.

The host club T&D will have a full bar and food service available and there is plenty of parking. The weather forecast is looking good so get yourself along to Dartington to watch a great game of football in the sunshine.