Teignmouth Trounce Tots on Way to Seventh Straight Win
Teignmouth put themselves right in the midst of the title pack with their seventh straight win (and fifth straight clean sheet) at home to Totnes and Dartington last Saturday. Ten points now separate the top eight teams, Newton Abbot Spurs three points clear of Crediton United at the top.
Ryan Bush scored the opener after just four minutes with Geoff Breslan making it 2-0 from the penalty spot after 34 minutes. Two goals in four minutes in the second half ended any chances of a Tots comeback, Hayden Roe rounding things off with a chip for number five.
Brixham AFC moved up to fourth with a late Alex Smith winner against St Martins. The Fishermen were good value for their win and go three unbeaten.
That was the only league action for South Devon Peninsula clubs but four teams were aiming for a place in the quarter-finals of the Throgmorton Devon Premier Cup. Only one made it through, Stoke Gabriel overcoming North Devon Football League opponents Ilfracombe Town 4-1. Elsewhere, Liverton United were edged out 3-2 at home to Devon and Exeter side Elmore; Bovey Tracey were also narrowly beaten at home by lower league opponents, high-flying North Devon Football League outfit Braunton with a 4-3 victory and Crediton United dispatched Galmpton United 4-1.
Newton Abbot Spurs had a lay day but face Crediton on Saturday as they aim to consolidate their lead. Their last game was on 26th November where they defeated the University of Exeter 2-1 at the Rec. Spurs were without skipper Adam Dyson, who had just become a dad, but that didn’t stop them from scoring their trademark early opener, Liam Jones’ cross deflected in by a visiting player for an own goal after just two minutes. That goal separated the sides at the break but not before a flurry of late chances for both sides, Jones firing over after good work from Shaun Bowden and lone striker Liam Moseley, Luke Barner curling a long-range effort over the bar, George Dandridge testing Jamie Carpenter in the away goal, Alex Parsons forcing Matt Bojar into a save at the other end moments later and Jones clearing the bar again with another effort.
The University lads will have felt they deserved to be level and finally did equalise in the 49th minute, Jack Kewley meeting an Andy Farley header. Spurs got back in front in the 53rd minute, Bowden pulling the ball back to Moseley who beat two defenders before scoring into the bottom corner, a goal he deserved for his work rate. The visiting linesman had raised his flag for offside but was overruled by the referee. Despite having the lion’s share of the possession, the University of Exeter couldn’t create enough chances and looked capable of shipping a third, Jones once more unable to keep his shot down and Bowden not quite able to reach a dangerous Moseley cross.
Elsewhere that afternoon, Bovey Tracey lost 4-2 at home to Axminster Town; Teignmouth scored the only goal at Exwick Villa, Galmpton United went down 4-3 at home to Alphington, Stoke Gabriel defeated Liverton United 2-1 and Brixham AFC hammered Totnes and Dartington 6-1 away.
