Lilies Lead Way While Tots Bounce Back
Liverton United go into their second derby match in three games at the head of the South Devon contingent after drawing 1-1 at home to Alphington on Wednesday night. Missing the injured Sean Finch, who returns today, the Lillies had to look elsewhere for their goals and Connor Stewart obliged with Josh Hole on target for the Alphas.
Liverton travel to Wall Park today to face a Brixham AFC side who fought out an entertaining 3-3 draw with Teignmouth on that same night. Graham Mercieca scored his second of the season to give the Fishermen the lead on 16 minutes but ten minutes later the Teigns had drawn level. Kieran Parkin then struck, nine minutes from half-time, to restore the hosts’ advantage before Dave Worthington’s goal, just before the hour mark, looked to have secured them the three points. But last year’s runners-up were determined not to be beaten and pulled one back through Hayden Roe in the 65th minute to set up an exciting last quarter of an hour. The visitors found the equaliser with six minutes remaining.
In another south Devon derby, over at Broadley Lane, Stoke Gabriel welcomed Newton Abbot Spurs and took a fourth minute lead when Ollie Critchlow hit Josh Webber’s low cross on the half-volley to beat Tom Buckler in the Spurs goal. But the Railwaymen soon found themselves down to ten men when Jordan Hopkins was dismissed, in the 16th minute, for a bad foul on Reece Moseley.Liam Moseley was involved in the next major incident of the match as he was brought down by Stoke captain Mark Ashworth to give player-manager Adam Dyson the chance to equalise from the penalty spot. Dyson blasted the ball high into the net past Scott Corderoy to lead Spurs in level at the break. Danny Gaze set up Webber whose fine cross-goal strike put Stoke back into the lead on 53 minutes and despite decent chances at both ends, Stoke looked to be heading for a second win which would have put them second in the table behind St Martins. But with nine minutes to go, Corderoy, who had earlier made a fine save to deny Matt Williams, made a mess of Reece Moseley’s long-range free-kick, allowing it to squirm into the net and earn Spurs their first point.
The first action of the week was at the Foxhole Ground in Dartington, on Tuesday, where Totnes & Dartington recovered from their Saturday thumping at Bovey Tracey to deal Galmpton United another blow. Tots scored through Liam Collings and Angus Wilson with Jamie Chamberlain hitting the net for the Greens. The game was marred by an incident involving the Galmpton manager Tony Bowker, who was running the line, and a group of supporters. Reports suggest Bowker may have been assaulted and rumours circulated about his resignation; these were quickly and strenuously denied by the manager.
Finally, Bovey Tracey were unable to maintain their winning start to the season as they went down 4-1 at Crediton United last night. Creddy opened the scoring from the penalty spot through Adam Bilcock, Steve Goss making it 2-0 after 21 minutes. With 36 minutes on the clock it was already looking desperate for the Moorlanders after Jon Bradford’s goal had put the hosts three up. Jack Salmons restored hope just after the hour mark with a goal for the visitors but Richard Blake quenched that optimism with a fourth for Crediton on 73 minutes.
