Brixham Stun Leaders Tiverton with Win at Ladysmead – Local Football Round-Up Part 2/3
Picture (c) MiraclePR
Stoke Gabriel will be hoping to pull off another upset tomorrow as they travel to Peninsula Premier League leaders St Austell. Stoke are currently four points from safety and seven points ahead of bottom club Elburton Villa who could find themselves relegated tomorrow if they lose and other results go against them.
As for Stoke, their latest action was down in Helston last Sunday. Helston, who were promoted from Division One West last season, were one of seven Cornish sides to come away from Broadley Lane with the points and they took the initiative in their double bid by going ahead through a first half Mattie Buchan strike. But two quick-fire goals after the break turned the tables before Phil Cattran produced an equaliser for the hosts.
It was a packed week of Division One East action, but there was no doubt about the main talking point: Brixham AFC’s surprise 2-1 win away at leaders Tiverton Town Reserves! Reece Sommers and Dan Keating scored the goals to stun unbeaten Tivvy and give the Fishermen a slim chance of a top six finish. The result is only likely to delay the celebrations for Tiverton though who require a maximum of four points in their final five games to clinch the title. Teignmouth lead the race to finish highest of the South Devon contingent and could yet finish runners-up in the Division. Geoff Breslan’s side also enjoyed a happy afternoon last Saturday by putting five past Exwick Villa at Coombe Valley while also keeping a clean sheet. All goals were scored in the second half with Ben Smith netting twice and Miles James, Ryan Guest and Jack Baxter also among the goals. Teigns’ next challenge came on Tuesday evening where they visited a Liverton side which are increasingly resembling Watcombe Wanderers with Lewis Woodmore, Pete Summerfield, Austen Booth and Sean Finch starting for the Lillies and Mike Fieldhouse and Jack Taylor on the bench. And it was Finch who struck, for the tenth time in six games, to ensure the match ended all square and inch Liverton above Totnes and Dartington in the battle to stay in the league.
As for Tots, their week proved to be frustrating with no points gained from three games in five games. Their most likely source of points was at the Foxhole Ground on Saturday where they welcomed mid-table Appledore in the midst of a six match free-fall. But it was the Fishermen who struck first, through Tom Marsh who turned neatly before hitting the back of the net. Steve Perkins drew Tots level, but the point was snatched away by a Kobe Bryant winner. Monday evening’s home tie against third-placed University of Exeter also went against the hosts, although the 4-0 scoreline was perhaps a little flattering to the visitors. Golden boot leader Ben Mogg added another goal to his tally with Callum Miller, Luke Barner and Oli Watts providing the other goals as the University side went temporarily up to second place. Then, on Wednesday, Totnes and Dartington faced an even more daunting test, away at Tiverton Town Reserves. Tots may not have achieved the same feat as Brixham, but their injury-plagued side put in a decent shift to limit the leaders to one goal in the first half. But a strong home side made their superiority count after the break and Tiverton emerged 5-0 victors courtesy of a Dave O’Connor hat-trick and singles from Khaled Badavi and Luke Mortimore.
Bovey Tracey eased their relegation fears with six points from two 3-1 victories. Last Saturday, a trip to bottom side Okehampton Argyle ended in success although the hosts were no pushovers. Chester Walters opened the scoring at Simmons Park, following a mix-up in the Argyle defence, and the Moorlanders went into the break one up. Ed Bradshaw headed Okey level early in the second half, finishing off a corner, but a second Walters strike and a third goal from Luke Durham settled the tie in the visitors’ favour. Bovey followed up that expected win with a much less anticipated home victory over Newton Abbot Spurs on Thursday evening. Bovey took the first half lead at the Western Counties Ground but Jake Chisholm levelled seven minutes before the interval. Ryan Stanbridge edged Bovey ahead again in the 78th minute before a late Mark Brooke own goal sealed the result. It was a second successive defeat for Spurs who had also lost 1-0 to St Martins in Tuesday night’s evening match at The Rec. A less than scintillating match looked to be heading for a 0-0 bore draw until Daryl Kewley brought down St Martins skipper Kevin Pike in the box with five minutes remaining. The hosts had no complaints about the decision and Ashley Matthews stepped up to score the spot-kick and ensure the Exeter side would be back in second place going into the weekend.
The previous Saturday had been a much more enjoyable occasion for the home fans as Spurs edged local rivals Galmpton United 2-1. The Greens did themselves no favours when Jamie Chamberlain was rightly sent off for an awful two-footed challenge on Chris Darke who was just getting up from an earlier tangle when the Galmpton man hit him full force in the chest. The dismissal turned the tide in the game, with Spurs finally taking the lead a minute before the break, Adam Dyson neatly taking Jake Chisholm’s pass beyond the advancing Kenny Griffiths before burying the ball in the back of the net. Carl Bradley made it two on 57 minutes, finishing off Shaun Bowden’s assist after the Galmpton defence had failed to deal with a Matt Williams chip. Spurs tried their hardest to press home their man advantage but Galmpton, to their credit, came roaring back, substitute Dan Rankin finally finding the net with a 76th minute long-range drive that took Travis Rowland completely by surprise. Spurs managed to hold on for the final 14 minutes to claim the three points and keep them in the hunt for a top four finish.
