South Devon Continues to Dominate Peninsula East
South Devon hold the top four places in Division One East for the second week running as Brixham AFC, Newton Abbot Spurs, Stoke Gabriel and Teignmouth all recorded home wins.
Teignmouth made it three wins in a row as they defeated the Vikings of Sidmouth Town, coming back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Coombe Valley. Tyler Wellman rose unmarked to head home a Will Jenkins cross in the first quarter but that was as good as it got for the visitors. Teigns found a first half leveller and then started the second meaning business. After Jamie Newbery hit the bar for Sidmouth, Teignmouth grabbed a 66th minute second from the counter. They hit the Vikings for a third, ten minutes from time, once again breaking and finishing ruthlessly.
Level on points at the top, Brixham AFC overcame fellow South Devon side Bovey Tracey at Wall Park to stay neck-in-neck with the Railwaymen. Mercieca and Newbould hit the target for the Fishermen with the Moorlanders’ weakened team unable to find the net.
In contrast, third-placed Newton Abbot Spurs seemed to have a tracking device on the Budleigh Salterton net as they slammed the Robins for nine at The Rec. A ten minute Liam Moseley hat-trick helped Spurs to a 4-0 half-time lead, Moseley scoring in the 10th, 18th and 20th minutes and Joe Andrews chipping in ten minutes before the interval. The pattern resumed after the break, Moseley scoring a fourth three minutes in, Adam Dyson with a quick-fire double in the 74th and 75th minutes. The final two home goals were delivered by Sean Adderley, in the 83rd minute, and Ian Wilkinson, four minutes later.
Stoke Gabriel played host to a St Martins side they had scored five past in both games, conceding only one giving the Railwaymen the psychological advantage. The visitors came closest to opening though, Harvey Newman seeing his shot strike the post after 11 minutes. A couple of minutes later, Jack Rawlings’ tackle on Lewis Woodmore drew a caution and presented Stoke with a free-kick. From this, Dean Stevens found Ollie Critchlow on the left and his cross was poked in by Sean Finch at the far post with 14 minutes played. Morgan Harford nearly scored a second for the home side after latching on to Critchlow’s through-ball but his shot was wide of the mark. Stoke didn’t have to wait long though and it was Critchlow again the provider, doing well to not only reach the ball with his outstretched leg but to send a high cross in for Finch to claim his second from close range, the game now 27 minutes old. Critchlow then provided a different kind of assist, brought down in the box to enable Finch to complete his hat-trick from the penalty shot, his spot-kick nestling into the bottom left on 33 minutes. Ryan Pym brought some hope back to the Exeter side, hitting a long-range ball over Scott Corderoy and into the goal before the break.
Two minutes after the restart, Stoke were on course for their third five-goal haul over St Martins as Mark Ashworth pounced from a corner, saw his shot blocked and then followed up with a second shot which found the net. Ten minutes later, Ross Carstairs picked up a second yellow card after clashing with Tom Kelly who was also booked. With the man advantage, Stoke pressed for a fifth, unlucky not to get it in the 72nd minute after a cross somehow evaded the heads of three leaping players. Lee Bailey then pulled off a save for the visitors as Finch pulled the ball back from the goal-line to set Critchlow up for a pop at goal. The fifth goal finally did come, six minutes from time, as Bailey brought down Josh Webber in the box and Stevens fired home the penalty. Critchlow was unlucky not to get on the score-sheet himself, forcing Bailey into another save and missing with a diving header from the return ball in the closing stages. Stoke are currently fourth in the table.
Galmpton United put on a solid home performance, going a goal down but recovering to overcome Exwick Villa 4-1, Stu Bowker with a hat-trick and Barkwell with the other Greens’ goal.
Totnes and Dartington also did well at Alphington, returning with three points after a 3-1 victory. But it was an afternoon to forget for Liverton United who were trounced 9-1 at Appledore.
