Bucks, Brixham and Spurs Start the Season with Victories
The first day of the season is always a day where fulfilled expectations are mixed with the disappointment of dashed hopes – and South Devon’s local sides will all be reflecting on their particular outcome from a mixed bag of results on Saturday afternoon.
The players and management at BUCKLAND ATHLETIC will be among the happiest in the region after brushing newly promoted Cribbs FC aside 6-1 at Homers Heath, Adam Castle beginning the club’s promotion campaign in the ideal fashion.
Gavin Hammon was to claim on opening day hat-trick, but it was Marc Revell who netted the opener half-way through the first half after a move created by an on-form Shane Gill. New signing, former Bridgewater skipper Andy Robertson almost doubled up for the Yellows after Dan Griffiths won a penalty just before the break, but his spot-kick was comfortably saved by visiting ‘keeper Phil Moulder.
Then, early in the second period, a foul on Robertson presented Hammon with the chance to open his account with a direct free-kick from the edge of the box. A foul in the area by young George Buckmaster then presented David Gilroy with a chance to narrow the deficit; he failed on that attempt, hitting the bar, but did pull the game back to 2-1 shortly afterwards. But that work was undone with 25 minutes remaining as a foul on Liam Head followed by dissent earned him his marching orders. Bucks took full advantage, but not before Lewis Perring missed the afternoon’s third penalty following Moulder’s push on Hammon. Hammon scored his second and Bucks’ third, heading home Jared Lewington’s cross, and then it was defender Liam Drew’s turn to get his name on the score-sheet after a charge down the right-hand side. Kieran Parkin then became the youngest club player to score at Toolstation Western League level, with a close range header, before Hammon chased down a through ball and converted for goal number six at the death.
With Stoke Gabriel not yet having started their Premier campaign, the rest of the local action was in the Carlsberg South West Peninsula Division One East: Jason Couch’s BRIXHAM AFC enjoyed victory in the season’s first local derby, defeating Justin Yeates’s LIVERTON UNITED 3-1. Brixham opened the scoring through Scott Dodgson just before half time, but the Lilies equalised early in the second period through Ollie Booth. Simon Primmer, Liverton’s new signing, proved his worth with two excellent saves before Josh Webber increased Brixham’s lead with 15 minutes left, Reece Somers sealing the win by heading in Josh Webber’s free kick in the last two minutes.
NEWTON ABBOT SPURS’ Adam Dyson will surely have a smile on his face after his side claimed a surprise opening day victory at Appledore – and the manager a hat-trick to boot. Dyson finished a move he had started, early in the match, converting Shaun Bowden’s cross to give the visitors the lead somewhat against the run of play. Debut ‘keeper Ross Williams looked to have secured a half-time lead with a great save before half-time, but he was unable to prevent Harry Stevens’ strike from the following corner.
The Peninsula East runners-up came out of the traps fastest after the break, but again it was Spurs who edged ahead, Bowden’s superb 20 yard run and finish stunning Appledore. The goal galvanised Spurs who began to get on top, Dyson side-footing home his second with less than 20 minutes to go. That looked like that until Seth Hodorowski’s last minute corner presented Tom Marsh with the chance to give his side an unlikely lifeline. They seized it with both hands, Coby Bryant stunning Spurs with a goal straight from the restart and earning Appledore a deserved point – but no! Bowden combined with Dyson one final time, deep in stoppage time, to bag Spurs the points.
TEIGNMOUTH and GALMPTON UNITED traded places at the top for much of last season before finishing third and fifth respectively. Both began their 2015/16 campaigns with draws, a decent looking Teigns side going behind but earning an impressive point at highly fancied Tiverton Town Reserves, while the Greens shared six goals at home to Okehampton Argyle.
The only South Devon side not to pick up a point on the opening day were TOTNES & DARTINGTON, who were soundly beaten 5-0 at Budleigh Salterton.
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