NEWTON Abbot 66 2nd XI enjoyed a pair of wins last week as the South Devon Football League season draws to a close, reports Alastair Muirden.

In their penultimate game, Sam Bridge Macauley Kerr were on target for Sixes on Thursday, May 22 as they beat South Brent 2-1.

They returned to Division Three action on the Saturday and Kerr netted again, this time accompanied by Cody Monk on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win over Liverton United 2nds.

66 confirm a solid sixth-place finish as a result whilst Liverton are eighth in the standings.

RONALD CUP FINAL

Returning to Thursday 22 and Liverton United’s Halford ground hosted the Division Three Ronald Cup final in glorious sunshine.

Ashburton and Elburton Villa 3rds finished the league season in first and second respectively so it was fitting that the best two teams were battling it out for the cup as well.

It took just 40 seconds for the drama to begin with the referee pointing to the spot for a stonewall penalty in favour of Ashburton. Up stepped Kameron Pouladdej for his first touch of the ball in the game only for Jack Bamford in the Elburton goal to make a tremendous save for an opening contribution of his own.

The game was end to end and both teams entertained the 150 spectators watching on, who only had to wait 18 more minutes for the first goal and it came from a good strike by Toby Jones.

Ashburton needed a goal to get back into the game but despite lots of half chances they just could not find the end product and Villa went two ahead on 32 minutes, Matt Squires with the goal.

Blake Colton and Ash Walker scored late goals with Ashburton pushing to get back into the game to give Elburton the silverware.

A fun fact for you all, Ashburton have only lost four games in all SDFL competitions this season and Elburton Villa can claim three of them so despite losing a cup final, they have had a very good season.

PREMIER DIVISION

Newton Abbot Spurs finally reached the summit of the SDFL Premier Division but disappointingly, they did so without kicking a ball.

Totnes and Dartington failed to send a team to the Newton Abbot Rec to play Spurs in their final game due to an alleged dispute between the clubs. As most readers will be aware, failing to fulfil a fixture is a costly decision not only for the guilty club but on this occasion the host club, who spent the day preparing the pitch and purchasing food and drink for what would have been a well-supported event.

At the other end of the table, already relegated Beesands Rovers went out with a bang with a 5–2 win in the South Hams derby versus East Allington United, a Jack Eades hat trick and singles from Louis Brace and Lewis Ivatts gave the Bees some local bragging rights for the summer in what has been a disappointing season being relegated by just one point.

DIVISION ONE

In Division One, Windmill, who have already secured third place had a big result with an 8–2 win against Ivybridge Town who themselves will be hoping for a better season next term after suffering two seasons of relegation in a row.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, the newly crowned champions Mount Gould won 2-nil at East Allington Utd 2nds in their penultimate game to move six points clear at the top.

At the start of the season, a few people thought that the former step-7 club would run away with the league but that has not been the case. Whilst they have won the division, they have been beaten and they have faced some tough opponents on the start of their new journey and Division One will give them a different challenge.

Mount Gould then rounded off their first season in the SDFL with a 2–1 win versus East Allington Utd 2nds thanks to goals from Daniel Bance and Rhys Williams. As a result, they won the division by nine points.

The Pirates, who have also had a good season, will finish in fifth or sixth place depending on how the two Paignton sides finish their campaigns.

Babbacombe Corries also closed off their season but with a 3–2 loss at Watcombe Wanderers 2nds, who have had a season that they will want to improve on next term. Corries meanwhile will probably be happy with fourth place in a tough competition.

County Senior Cup

Whilst it’s not an SDFL competition, it is worth a mention that for the past two seasons, the SDFL has been dominant in the county senior cup.

Last season, Paignton Saints and Newton Abbot Spurs graced the final and this season it was Phoenix and True Blues and I must say a big congratulations to the Devon FA for live streaming the game and the coverage was excellent. Online I could see people signing in from as far away as Spain and Portugal to watch two SDFL teams play a grassroots cup final.

On the pitch, you would not have thought that these two teams have been neck and neck all season.

Phoenix ran out 7-nil winners in the end and deservedly so. On the day, they were far better in everything they did and True Blues will be disappointed that they never produced the form that has been with them all season. The SDFL congratulates Phoenix on their fantastic victory.

DIVISION THREE

How nice it is to see Paignton Saints 3rds end what has been a difficult season on a high?

A 4–1 victory versus the team just above them but out of reach South Brent, who will be happy to see the season completed, after nearly having to withdraw the team early in the season. For Saints, hopefully a season in Division Four will let them reset and move forward again.

Next week’s report will be a summary of the ups and downs of the Torbay Clearance Services League season. Thank you for supporting grassroots football.