WITH just a handful of weather-related postponements, the South Devon Football League were able to not only catch up with the delayed Herald cup fixtures but also get some much-needed league games played, reports Alastair Muirden.

PREMIER DIVISION

East Allington Utd moved into third place with a comprehensive 3-nil win against the league leaders, Finn Bullen and Finn Billingham scoring the goals. Despite the defeat, True Blues remain at the summit.

Chudleigh Ath had yet another great result as they won 3-1 at home over Paignton Saints with goals from Kia Stocker and a double from Gavin Lake moving them ahead of Ilsington Villa.

Kingsteignton Ath also had a very important victory in a six-pointer at the wrong end of the table, a 2–1 win over Totnes and Dartington lets the Rams join Chudleigh and Ilsington on that 7-point gap to the bottom two.

The result leaves the visitors joint bottom with Buckfastleigh Rangers who were on Herald Cup duty.

Elsewhere, Lakeside Ath moved to within a point of the defending champions Newton Spurs 2nds by beating them 3-2, this being Lakeside’s first league game since the start of November.

CUP GAMES

Two Premier teams played in the Herald Cup over lower league opposition and whilst the results went to form, both teams took a different route.

Ilsington Villa put 14 goals past Division Two side Newton Rovers who never gave up at Bakers Park, Dan Langford was the star of the show with 6 goals on the day and there were hat tricks for brother Jack and James Kervella.

In the A38 derby game at Division Three outfit South Brent, a shock was at several times on the cards, only for Buckfastleigh Rangers to dig in and take the game to extra time where Dylan Rangecroft won it for them 4-3.

Meanwhile Ivybridge Town 2nd XI scored seven unanswered goals away at Kingsbridge & Kellaton Utd, Ashburton beat Bere Alston United 2nd XI 4-0 at home and Buckland Ath 2nd XI exited at the hands of Galmpton Utd.

In the Fred Hewings Cup, Barton 2nds beat Buckfastleigh 2nds 5-2, Elburton Villa 2nds overcame South Molton in the Devon Senior Cup and Stoke Gabriel TP 2nds lost 5-1 at Alphington 3rds in the A&S Paving Intermediate Cup.

DIVISION ONE

Nerves must be setting in at the top of Division One with the strangest set of results in one day that I can remember. There are now 8 teams that are in the mix for promotion.

Barton Ath put in a shift at Mount Gould and a 1–1 draw was no less than they deserved and to come away from Plymouth with points is a feat that not many will achieve. The result leaves the Torquay side eight points off the lead with two games in hand and who would bet against them?

Beesands Rovers came from behind twice to move joint top with a hard fought 3–2 win at Brixham Town with goals from Joe Craig (2) and Jack Hopkiss.

Beesands have now reached the halfway point with fixtures and Town have now lost two on the bounce but both are just one point short of Paignton Villa who drew 1–1 with Bovey Tracey at South Devon College in a game where the draw seemed to be a fair result and keeps Villa top of the division by just one point.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two, Signal Box Oak Villa remain on track for their next station stop (Div 1) after a comfortable afternoon at Armada Park with a 9–1 win over Upton Ath who will be glad to see the last of the Plymouth outfit, having lost twice to them in the last month.

Babbacombe Corries unbeaten record is still intact but they dropped a couple of points in their 2–2 draw with Paignton Villa 2nds, Alex Chamberlain and Joshua Easterbrook were on target for Corries who remain in second place, four points behind the leaders but with a game in hand.

Drake FC also lost some ground on the leading pack as they were held to a 3–3 draw at home against East Allington Utd 2nds and both teams are now in mid-table, Drake’s two games in hand are now just a bit more valuable but they have to win them first.

DIVISION THREE

Just the one league game in Division Three and Liverton Utd 2nds won 8–1 versus Waldon Ath 2nds thanks to goals from Kye Graham, Tom Roddy, Oliver West, George Stahlman, Steve Reilly and Harvey Kendall.

The result leaves Livvy safe in mid table and the Clarets joint bottom with Ipplepen and T&D 2nds. Interestingly, Stoke Gabriel TP are fourth from bottom with five games in hand and if they won them they would be a top three team.

DIVISION FOUR

At the top of Division Four, Teign Village moved within three points of the leaders Chudleigh Ath with a 6-nil victory over Paignton Saints 3rds. They also have a game in hand.

Paignton Villa 3rds remain well placed and a 4–2 win at Broadhempston Utd puts them into fourth place and completes half of their fixtures for the season.

PREVIEWS

There are three very interesting games that could shape the look of the division for January.

In-form Chudleigh Ath face a Lakeside Ath team at Kate Brook with both teams desperate for a clean month. East Allington Utd are also looking for a bit more consistency but have out of the blue, set up a 3rd v 2nd game at Poole Lane.

In Division One, there is a promotion six pointer at JC park where Brixham Town face Barton Ath in what should be a great game.

Division two offers some watchable games with Ashburton paying a visit to Watcombe Wanderers 2nds and the visitors will be hoping for a repeat of the home tie which ended 24-nil, but the greens will be out for revenge and to show how far they have come since October.