NEWTON Abbot Spurs’ hopes of clinching league cup silverware were extinguished when they were beaten 2-1 by St. Day AFC on Saturday, January 10.

The pair went toe-to-toe at The Rec with a place in the quarter finals of the Walter C Parson Cup on the line and it was the visitors who prevailed.

St. Day opened the scoring after just eight minutes courtesy of Josh Margetts but Spurs weren’t fazed by this, they continued to enjoy plenty of possession.

This one-goal advantage for the Cornish outfit remained intact at the break only for Toby Pullman to restore parity for the hosts moments after.

From the penalty spot, Tyler Oliver put the visitors back ahead with 70 minutes on the clock and despite their best efforts, there wasn’t to be a response on the scoreboard from Newton Spurs.

St. Day’s reward for this victory on their travels is a clash with a fellow Premier West team, either AFC Dobwalls or Callington Town, on Saturday, February 14.

A trophy-less season may now be on the cards for Spurs but with plenty of games in hand, a strong conclusion to the league campaign could secure them a top-three finish.

Talking of league action and there were four South West Peninsula League East games that overcame the weather to go ahead.

Spurs’ South Devon rivals Bovey Tracey AFC and Teignmouth AFC both took to the field with contrasting outcomes.

League leaders Bovey welcomed rock-bottom Axminster Town to the Western Counties Roofing Ground and as expected, the Moorlanders secured a high-scoring win.

With less than 10 minutes on the clock, Stuart Bowker had already found the back of the net twice to set Bovey on the right path.

Josh Webber made it three before Axminster then responded with a goal of their own.

An Ollie Aplin strike left the half-time score at 4-1 and he would go on to make it a hat-trick in the second half, as did Bowker, but not before Owen Stockton notched their fifth of the afternoon.

For Aplin, these were goals 99, 100 and 101 in a Bovey shirt, reaching this tally in just 121 appearances as a deserved testament to his contributions to the club and his great work inside the penalty area.

Meanwhile, Bridport FC just about recovered from their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Teignmouth the week prior to edge out Okehampton Argyle at Simmons Park and remain a point behind Bovey, although Ben Gerring’s side still have three games in hand to cash in.

On January 3, this was a superb result for the Teigns and it didn’t get any easier for them as they visited Cullompton Rangers at Adopstar Park.

Harry Breslan struck a hat-trick in the Bridport win and it was Brad Breslan on the scoresheet this time as Teignmouth were beaten 2-1 by Cully.

The only other Premier East game of the day saw Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police beat Ilfracombe Town 3-2 at Broadley Lane, despite being reduced to 10 men twice, once temporarily and once permanently.

Our South Devon trio all return to action on Saturday, January 17. Bovey Tracey and Newton Abbot Spurs are away at Okehampton and Ilminster Town respectively whereas 12th-placed Teignmouth welcome 15th-placed Bishops Lydeard to Coombe Valley.