FRIDAY night’s Herald Cup final was the flagship fixture of the weekend with Waldon Athletic beating Kingsteignton Athletic 2-0 (full report on the back page and more pictures available on the Mid-Devon Advertiser website) but there was plenty more South Devon Football League action taking place elsewhere.
PREMIER DIVISION
At the top of the Premier Division, Ilsington Villa stretched their lead with a midweek win at the aforementioned Waldon, reports Alastair Muirden.
The 8–1 scoreline was achieved with hat tricks for Dan Langford and James Karvalla and this may flatter the Moorlanders due to the fielding of several 2nd team players by the hosts, in preparation for their big day out.
Villa’s lead at the top is eight points and Spurs have three games in hand. Villa have one game to play which is at Beesands Rovers on May 10.
Saturday’s fixtures were all about the relegation places. Whilst Elburton Villa 2nds have already claimed one spot in Division One next season, the other spot has for some time been between Chudleigh Athletic and Beesands Rovers but an upturn in form for both teams has made it interesting.
Chudleigh Ath lost 1-nil at East Allington Utd to a late header by Ben Tapper, who puts the Pirates up to the heady heights of sixth place after flirting with the bottom two places as recently as Easter. The prospects for Chudleigh Ath surviving may actually lie in the hands of East Allington Utd who have to play Beesands Rovers twice this month. Should Beesands win one of those games then Chudleigh will need to beat Waldon or Newton Spurs in their final two games.
Beesands Rovers on the other hand had a great win at home to Paignton Saints by four goals to three, thanks to a Louis Brace hat-trick and a Jack Eades single. This leaves Rovers second from bottom with four games to play and just two points behind Chudleigh. It was Saints’ last game so they will have to watch this space to find out if Rovers can make up the 6-point gap to send them back to Division One after one season.
DIVISION ONE
Division One has caused the league officers some problems this season- from what was a very strong league at the start of the season it has become clear that not all clubs can win the support of players when times get tough or the sun shines.
Watcombe Wanderers could not raise a team from 84 registered players to travel to Bovey Tracey so the home team pick up the points and will probably finish their season in fourth place. What gets lost is the time and effort spent by the hosts to prepare the pitch and the ground to welcome the public, not to mention the food purchase and preparation only to be let down on a Saturday morning.
Buckland Athletic 2nds finished their season with a 2-nil home win against Brixham Town and should be pleased with a top-six season. Town were already safe from the drop but the pending points deduction heading Watcombe’s way will allow them to enjoy their final two fixtures versus Phoenix and Bovey.
WBB also had a good result, a 4-nil win against already relegated Ivybridge Town sends them into mid-table in what has been a difficult season for the Claymen.
The top-of-the-table game was played on Friday evening under lights at Parkway Social Club and what a game it was. Whilst it may not affect the end result of this division, it certainly shook some feathers, Windmill moved to within two points of Phoenix with a fine 4–1 win and became the first team this season to beat the favourites.
Not only was it the first time Phoenix have lost in the SDFL it was the first time they had lost in any league competition for 2 years and the two teams meet on Friday, May 9 at Buckfastleigh next, in the Dartmouth Cup at 7pm. Windmill will also be hoping that their neighbours True Blues can help them by taking points from Phoenix in their upcoming league fixtures.
DIVISION TWO
In Division Two, Mount Gould must be wondering if they made the correct decision to join the South Devon League. This week they were let down for the fourth time in the league and pick up the points for Upton Athletic not travelling to play. They have also had two cup games where the opposition have failed to honour a fixture.
The gap at the top is six points as Barton Athletic won their final game 2-nil at Paignton Villa 2nds thanks to an own goal and a Zach Norton strike, that has secured at least the runners up place and a place in Division One next season.
Liverton Utd needed Barton to drop points to catch them, so as a result of Barton’s win they can get to third place if they win four of their final six games. At the bottom, both of the reserve teams from Ipplepen Athletic and Buckfastleigh Rangers will go into Division Three next term.
PREVIEWS
On Friday, May 9, at Buckfastleigh Rangers FC, is the Division One Dartmouth Cup Final between Plymouth Phoenix and The Windmill with a 7pm KO.
This is a first for the SDFL as two Plymouth-based teams will contest a cup final. The two teams met in the league last week and as reported above, Windmill won by four goals to one and have no doubt put a dent in the ambitions of the Phoenix club.
This is predicted to be a great game with two quality teams that could and should be playing at a higher level of football.
On to the following day and the Division Three title could be won or lost at Ashburton, where 3rd placed Elburton Villa 3rds are the visitors. A win or draw for Ashes gives them the title; a win for Villa and they could catch them.