Spurs and Clarets are Final Bound: Local Football Round-Up
Photograph (c) MiraclePR
Newton Abbot Spurs booked their place in the Throgmorton Devon Premier Cup last Wednesday night with a narrow 1-0 victory over fellow Peninsula East side Teignmouth. Teignmouth arrived at Homers Heath as the favourites due to their league position but were put on the back foot as early as the ninth minute, Chris Metters’ nod on from a Mark Brooke free-kick reaching the unmarked Jake Chisholm who headed the dream opener. Spurs threatened more during the first half, the returning Adam Dyson seeing his low shot pushed on to the post by Adam Broome before Metters also headed against the woodwork from a Shaun Bowden corner on 24 minutes. Matt Eves deflected strike, which ended up in Scott Bellamy’s arms two minutes later, was the best Teigns managed in the first half an hour and Spurs came close again, twice, before half time, Matt Williams calling Broome into action after good approach play by Bowden and Carl Bradley, and the latter also firing over. On the 40th minute, Eves’ free-kick crashed into the Spurs wall to ensure Spurs went in to the break a goal to the good.
Teignmouth poured forward after the interval but the stout Spurs defence kept them at bay, restricting Eves to long-range shots which went over Bellamy’s bar. Bowden also fired over and then, ten minutes from time, cleared the bar with a header after another Brooke set piece. Teigns were determined to make Spurs pay for that missed chance and sent cross after cross into the box. But even five minutes of injury time couldn’t help them find the elusive equaliser and Spurs held on to reach their first County Cup final since 1991 and only their fourth ever. They will face either Appledore or Elmore who play on 31st March.
Three days earlier, Spurs’ Recreation Ground was the venue for the second Herald Cup semi-final which would see whether Division Two standouts Roselands could upset Premier side and Belli Cup holders Waldon Athletic (pictured in claret and blue) and return on Good Friday in the final against Buckland Athletic Reserves. But it was the Clarets who made it through, Chris Harrity and Brook Ward with the goals to leave Waldon 90 minutes from possibly lifting the Herald Cup for the first ever time.
Buckland Athletic Reserves waited until the second half to turn up the heat in their semi-final which was played on Friday 11th March. Opponents Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves had held their own in the first half, enjoying plenty of possession, but Bucks always looked dangerous and went ahead through Gav Collins just before the break. After the restart, things went from bad to worse for Spurs who went two down and then lost Darren Sowerby to a red card. Bucks took full advantage of the surplus man, hitting three further goals before Spurs managed a consolation through Andy Eden. Lee Chapman found the net twice for the Yellows who also scored second half goals through Matt Beer and Morgan Harford. Buckland will contest their fourth Herald Cup final in five years although they haven’t won the trophy since beating Watcombe in extra-time in May 2012.
Last Saturday was mainly about the divisional cups, with the first two George Belli Cup semi-final spots secured by Dartmouth AFC and Upton Athletic. Upton bounced back from last week’s extra-time Herald Cup quarter-final defeat with a convincing 5-0 win at Stoke Gabriel Reserves. Darts matched that scoreline at Longcross as they sent fellow South Hams side Ivybridge Town Reserves packing, Karl Baker with four and the visitors putting through their own net.
In the last eight of the Dartmouth Cup, league champions Buckland Athletic Thirds returned to Beesands Rovers, the scene of their opening day victory. Danny Tucker and Finley Bullen continued their recent scoring form for the Bees, with goals apiece, but Bucks went one better to go through 3-2. Bovey Tracey Reserves may have been hoping to settle a score at home to Ashburton. Last season, two divisions separated the sides when the Ashes humbled then-Premier side Bovey 7-0 in the Herald Cup. But this year’s all-Division One clash served up a similar disappointment for the hosts with Ashburton going through 5-0; Frances Furnivall put away a hat-trick with Clifford and Moore also on target. Last year’s runners-up Paignton Villa are out after going down 4-1 at Newton Abbot ’66. Chudleigh Athletic complete a strong final four after Shane Beetschen’s strike was not enough for hosts Stoke Gabriel Thirds in a 2-1 loss.
The final four of the Lidstone Cup were also decided on Saturday. Ronald Cup holders Roselands racked up the score of the day with an 11-0 thumping of Newton United. Watcombe Wanderers Reserves dispatched Paignton Saints 2-0 away as they also target consecutive divisional cup finals, while bottom side South Brent proved no match for holders Harbertonford who cruised through 7-0 at Palstone Park. The hardest to call was fourth placed Teignmouth’s clash with second-placed Buckfastleigh Rangers at Coombe Valley with both sides very much in form. But in the end it was Teigns who went through with a 3-0 victory.
Liverton United Reserves could be the team to beat in the Ronald Cup after they beat fellow title contenders AFC Staverton by a 3-0 margin at Halford. Teign Village enjoyed a first win since October with a 2-1 triumph over rivals Chudleigh Athletic Reserves while Upton Athletic Reserves also took another step towards the trophy by edging Harbertonford Reserves 3-2. Dartmouth Reserves will play Ipplepen Reserves for the remaining semi-final spot next weekend.
The Les Bishop Cup brought plenty of late drama, with three of the quarter-finals going to extra-time and two to penalty shoot-outs. Only Ashburton Reserves made it through in normal time, a single goal enough to dispatch Meadowbrook Athletic. Torquay Town and Broadmeadow battled out a 2-2 draw before Broadmeadow made it through 4-2 on penalties. Dan Garwood’s strike for Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves ensured Barton Athletic were pushed all the way in the Barton Downs derby, but Athletic made it through 3-2 on spot-kicks. Newton Rovers came alive in extra-time, scoring three times to send Roselands Reserves out.
Moretonhampstead’s Division Five double bid gathered steam as they knocked Barton Athletic Reserves out of the Bill Treeby Cup 3-2 at home, Alvey doing his best for the visitors with a brace. Buckland and Milber Reserves stormed into the last four with nine goals and a clean sheet at Newton Rovers Reserves. Danny Harry earned himself the match ball, Cory Brennan and Matt Winsor scored two apiece and Louis Lobb and Robbie Chapman completed the rout. Torbay Police Reserves also secured comfortable passage with a 6-0 drubbing of Broadhempston United Reserves. A double for Swann and another strike from Guttridge secured a 3-1 win for Newton United Reserves away at WBB AFC whose consolation came from Corey Hancock.
Premier League leaders Watcombe Wanderers will have their work cut out to fend off Dartmouth once the South Hams side start ploughing through their games in hand, but the unbeaten Greens are doing what they can and extended the gap to six points with a fine 4-0 win over East Allington United. Kingskerswell & Chelston can now start looking up the table after they completed the double against Brixham AFC, winning 1-0 at Wall Park. Bottom side Loddiswell Athletic added another point to their tally with a goalless home draw against Kingsteignton Athletic.
Babbacombe Corinthians launched themselves into the top half of the Division One table, Callum Crews with a brace and Josh Haycox with a single in a 3-1 win over Buckland and Milber who scored through Dan Steer. Totnes & Dartington Reserves heaped more misery on Kingskerswell & Chelston Reserves with a 6-1 away win in a relegation six-pointer.
Abbotskerswell’s defence has been cause for concern of late, and now the goals are drying up too. Abbots’ latest disappointment was an 8-0 home thrashing by Bishopsteignton United. Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves also found the goals flowing as they put five past visiting Brixham Town with no reply.
Ashley Yeoman and Salcombe Town stole the Division Three show, with Yeoman scoring half of his side’s ten away at Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves. Tom Pilling scored a hat-trick at the Duckspond with Harrison Ward and Duncan Scales also weighing in for the leaders. Dartmouth AFC Reserves maintained the three point gap with a 5-0 win at Torbay Police; Kevin Causley scored twice, once from the spot, and Nick Rushe, Rhys Morrallee and Ian Armitage made up the difference. East Allington United Reserves came away from Dittisham United with all the points, 2-1 the final score from Shinners Meadow, while Ipplepen Athletic Reserves netted the only goal at Windmill Hill to deprive Waldon Athletic Thirds of a point.
With the top three all in cup action, Watcombe Wanderers Thirds will probably be disappointed to have only secured a 1-1 draw in their home Division Four tie with lowly Paignton Villa Reserves. The result leaves them just three points ahead of Riviera United who won 3-0 at Kingsbridge & Kellaton United.
In Division Five, Paignton Saints Reserves enjoyed a first win of the year as they won 3-2 at home to bottom side Malborough United, Ian Simons with two and Ash Barlow with a single. A point for Chudleigh Athletic Thirds, who drew 1-1 at home to Stoke Fleming & Strete, was enough to lift them another place up the table.
