FOR the first time in the long history of the South Devon Football League, two Plymouth-based teams reached the final of the Division One Dartmouth Cup, reports Alastair Muirden.
Plymouth Phoenix fell to The Windmill by two goals to nil at the home of Buckfastleigh Rangers on Friday, May 9, Louis Godwin and Jack Briscoe striking after the break to seal the silverware.
Dartmouth Cup sponsors Francis Clark Accountants awarded the man of the match prize to Windmill skipper Chey Hammond and presented him with a commemorative glass.
PREMIER DIVISION
In the Premier Division midweek games, Newton Abbot Spurs once again called on their resources, as did their opponents Waldon Athletic, but the Torquay side were off the pace and still suffering a Herald Cup hangover as Spurs took another step towards being crowned champions. Toby Pullman scored four of the nine goals that puts Spurs five points behind Ilsington Villa with two games in hand.
Moving on to Friday 9 and Spurs were back in action, meeting relegation-threatened Chudleigh Athletic. Pullman was joined on the scoresheet by Callum Noyce and Jack Upshire as Spurs won 5-1 to move them even closer to Ilsington.
Meanwhile, Chudleigh only have one game to play, also against Waldon, where they need a win to give themselves a chance of retaining premier division status.
Ilsington Villa remain at the summit after their final game of the season but Beesands Rovers will be mightily proud of holding the Moorlanders to a 2 – 2 draw at Loddiswell in the sunshine.
East Allington Utd must be wishing they could go back to the future with their end-of-season form having only lost one of their last eight games. This week’s 4–1 victory over Totnes and Dartington sees the Pirates move up to fifth place and a top four spot is a possibility for this team who at Easter, were two points off of a relegation spot.
DIVISION ONE
In Division One, the games are coming thick and fast for Phoenix who made the long trek to Brixham Town on Tuesday and came away with a 7–1 win thanks to 4 more goals for David Moore, whose season tally now reaches 36 and counting.
Phoenix are six points behind True Blues with three games in hand, in fact Phoenix still have five games to play in the last two weeks of the season and two of them are against True Blues.
Brixham Town then closed out their season with a trip to face Bovey Tracey and it ended with a disappointing 4–1 defeat for the Fishermen. On the flip side, Bovey are cemented in fourth place and could nick third if The Windmill slip-up and they both meet on the last day of the season. On target for Bovey were Ben Moyle, Ryan Stanbridge and a worldie from Christian Fleet was the highlight of the afternoon.
DIVISION TWO
Mount Gould have surpassed Barton Athletic at the top of Division Two, a pair of 7-0 victories over Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds and Watcombe Wanderers 2nds moving them ahead on goal difference. They are now a point away from the formality of being crowned champions on their journey back to the football pyramid.
The only other game in this division was at Halford where Liverton Utd had another good win, beating Harbertonford 5-3 as they look to finish third ahead of East Allington 2nds, Paignton Saints 2nds and Watcombe 2nds.
In what has been a great competition, congratulations are due to Mount Gould and Barton Athletic who will be playing in Division One next term.
DIVISION THREE
The top-of-the-table game in Division Three was at Ashburton where they welcomed the only team that can beat them to the title in Elburton Villa 3rds. In a game that was a credit to this division, the visitors ran out 4-2 winners and so the Ashes will have to wait another week, until they visit Newton Abbot 66 2nds, to get the win that is needed to clinch the division title.
Elburton return to Plymouth with the points that takes them within one point of the runners-up spot should Ashes win at 66. Should that not happen, then Villa can take the title with a win at South Brent and Paignton Saints 3rds.
Now is probably not a good moment to mention that a league officer was at the Ashburton game with the Division Three trophy for presentation, perhaps he will stay away from the 66 game!
Three other games were played in this division with Liverton Utd 2nds winning at Brixham Town 2nds, 66 2nds putting four past Paignton Saints 3rds and Stoke Gabriel TP winning by a single goal at South Brent.
PREVIEWS
With just two weeks of the grassroots season left, it should be noted that only one of the South Devon Football League’s five divisions has a confirmed champion and runner-up. That is of course Division Four, where Kingskerswell won the title with an unbeaten season and Templar Way finished second in their first season in Saturday football.
The Premier Division will be won by Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds or Ilsington Villa, the relegation spots will be Elburton Villa plus Beesands Rovers or Chudleigh Athletic.
Division One will be won by Phoenix or True Blues, runners-up will be either of them plus Windmill. The relegation spots will be Ivybridge Town plus Watcombe Wanderers, Paignton Villa or Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds.
Division Two will be won by Mount Gould, unless they concede 27 goals in their last three games, ahead of Barton Athletic. The relegation spots will be Buckfastleigh Rangers 2nds and Ipplepen Athletic 2nds.
Division Three will be won by Ashburton or Elburton Villa 3rds. Drake FC could get runners-up if Elburton lose their last two games. The relegation spots will be Brixham Town 2nds and Paignton Saints 3rds.
The league management committee are delighted with how good the competition has been this season and to have only one confirmed champion with 14 days of the season left would have been on all of their wish lists.
On Thursday, May 15, Totnes and Dartington and Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds will compete for the Premier Division George Belli Cup at Liverton United, kicking off at 7pm.
Spurs won 5-0 at T&D in the league and will fancy their chances of furthering their league and cup double hunt.