Clean Sweep for South Devon Peninsula Sides in Premier Cup
Last Saturday was a productive afternoon for the four South Devon based Peninsula Division One East sides in the Throgmorton Devon Premier Cup Third Round as all scored multiple goals and made it through to the last 16.
Stoke Gabriel are going well in the cups this season. The only South Devon side left in the League Cup continued their march in the County Cup with an emphatic victory over divisional rivals St Martins. After Dean Stevens had given Darren Bingham in the visitors’ goal an early workout with his low free-kick, Ollie Critchlow broke the deadlock after only 13 minutes, capitalising when Ollie Booth missed connecting with a ball from the left. Scott Corderoy kept the Railwaymen ahead seven minutes later by tipping a header from Kevin Pike’s cross over the bar as the Exeter side began to find their feet. Stoke had a couple of chances to double their lead after the half-hour mark, Stevens forcing another excellent save from Bingham and Critchlow’s effort headed off the line by Ross Parker. The second did come before half-time though, a corner from the left finding its way to Jake White who slammed the ball home. Ross Carstairs forced Corderoy into another good save before the interval and the sides went in with Stoke two up.
The second half didn’t really get going until the 75th minute when Gareth McEwan ended any doubt about the scoreline, converting substitute Jordan Hopkins’ delivery after the latter had beaten a number of the opposition down the right. Shortly afterwards, Hopkins helped Josh Webber’s goalbound corner over the line for a fourth goal before Booth wrapped things up with a long-range strike in the dying minutes. Ben Brown almost scored the goal of the game before the end but his volley from the right went narrowly over Bingham’s crossbar. Stoke will take on North Devon League side Ilfracombe Town at Broadley Lane on 3rd December for a quarter-final place.
Liverton United were at home to SDFL Premier side Loddiswell Athletic and went behind on 18 minutes. But that was as good as it got for the visitors who, after Scott Beattie’s first-half leveller, were torn apart by Sean Finch after the break, the Liverton striker netting three times in a ten minute spell to put the Lillies 4-1 up. Mark Sneap’s 68th minute goal completed the home side’s afternoon. Liverton will take on unbeaten Devon and Exeter League side Elmore who were semi-finalists in last season’s competition.
Bovey Tracey dispatched Bideford Reserves by six goals to nil. Joe Bushin and Jack Salmons managed braces apiece with Gavin Collins and Ben Head also on target but it was Callum Leech who stood out for the Moorlanders who have also been drawn at home in the last 16, Braunton their opponents who are yet to drop a point in the North Devon League.
Galmpton United complete the quartet and, like Liverton, were also at home to SDFL opponents – Upton Athletic. Upton started well but were caught out at the back by Stuart Bowker who won a one-on-one with the goalkeeper to put the Greens ahead. A Jon Thomson header from a free-kick and another goal from a counter-attack put the hosts three up before Bowker slotted the ball past the ‘keeper from a narrow angle to make it 4-0 at half-time. A Matt Barkwell penalty and a second for Thomson, following a mistake in midfield polished off a 6-0 victory but Upton played some decent football at times and could have scored themselves. The Greens have drawn Crediton United away from home, their fellow Peninsula East side somewhat fortunate to be in the hat after struggling to get past SDFL side Ashburton in their game, finally squeezing through on penalties.
There will be one SDFL side in the final 16 though, East Allington United scoring seven away at Beer Albion in their Second Round tie to go through 7-3. Ben Robey was the hat-trick hero for the Pirates who also scored through Tom Rowdon, himself with a double, Si Hannaford and Andy Davis.
Brixham AFC were in league action and they closed the gap on the front-runners with a 1-0 win over high-flying Torridgeside. The previous Wednesday, Newton Abbot Spurs were also celebrating as they supplanted Crediton United at the top of the division by beating Stoke 1-0 at the Rec, an unmarked Adam Dyson heading home from six yards after a good run and cross from Shaun Bowden.
