Dartmouth Destroy Watcombe in SDFL Premier – Local Football Round-Up Part 3/3
Dartmouth AFC knew that last Saturday’s home tie with Watcombe Wanderers would have a huge bearing on the title race, and they gave it their full attention, smashing seven past the leaders without reply to destroy the Greens’ unbeaten record. Karl Baker (pictured) scored a hat-trick for rampant Darts with the other goals provided by Rushe, Frost, White and Greeno. Nevertheless, Buckland Athletic are still in control of their own destiny and up to second after picking up maximum points in their two games this week. Having recently been frustrated with a 0-0 home draw with Brixham AFC Reserves, Gav Collins and Morgan Harford struck to ensure Saturday’s reverse fixture at Wall Park ended 2-0 to the visitors. Bucks were back at home on Tuesday night where they defeated Ivybridge Town Reserves, also 2-0, Matt Beer and Jamie Micklewright with the goals. Fourth-placed East Allington United condemned Newton Abbot Spurs to their fourth straight league loss last Saturday – every game since their semi-final cup loss in fact – with a 4-0 home win, Andy Davis, Ben Robey, Tom Harvey and Tom Rowdon scoring for the Pirates. Spurs finally stopped the rot on Wednesday evening, coming away from Waldon Athletic with a decent 0-0 draw. Waldon had previously made up for their recent league loss to Kingsteignton Athletic by beating the Rams 3-2 at Broadpark, Josh Mason, Spike Bond and Zak Gleason with the Clarets’ goals. After a ten day break, Kingskerswell and Chelston moved above Upton Athletic with a 3-1 victory at Armada Park on Tuesday evening. Upton Athletic had only recently recovered from their heavy loss against Buckland by defeating Loddiswell Athletic 3-2 in the South Hams last Saturday. Deducted points and a 2-1 home loss against Ivybridge Town Reserves last Saturday leave Stoke Gabriel Reserves propping up the table and facing potential relegation.
In Division One, Buckland Athletic Thirds reclaimed their place at the top of the table with a 1-0 victory away at Ipplepen Athletic, who slip to third followed up by a Wednesday night 5-2 win at home to Chudleigh Athletic. Ashburton are up to second after a comfortable 5-0 triumph at Bovey Tracey Reserves on Saturday and a narrow 3-2 success at Babbacombe Corinthians on Wednesday night. But it’s now nine straight wins in all competitions for on-fire Newton Abbot ’66 who swept Stoke Gabriel Thirds aside 8-2 on Saturday and then scored three without reply at home to bottom club Kingskerswell and Chelston Reserves in midweek. Totes and Dartington Reserves are putting a run of surprising victories together, including successive 1-0 away wins against Chudleigh (on Saturday) and Beesands Rovers (on Tuesday). Beesands had been on a winning run themselves, their fourth on the bounce coming last Saturday against Kingskerswell and Chelston Reserves with Finley Bullen claiming a hat-trick and Gus Hayward with a goal in a comfortable 4-0 triumph. Corries increased Paignton Villa’s woes last Saturday with a narrow 3-2 win at Armada Park, Marshall, Lawton and Crews netting.
In Division Two, leaders Roselands reached the 100 goal mark with a 5-1 home victory over Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves and increased their lead to ten points on Wednesday evening with a 6-1 away win at Abbotskerswell. Abbots had done Simon Walker’s side a favour last Saturday, dealing title rivals Watcombe Wanderers Reserves a surprise blow on Saturday as they finally ended their lengthy run of losses with a 2-1 win at the King George V. Watcombe then went down 3-1 at Harbertonford on Wednesday with Ford beating Hookhills United 4-0 on Saturday; the South Hams side have now racked up seven league wins on the bounce. Buckfastleigh Rangers stay second; they made amends for last month’s cup defeat at Teignmouth by winning 3-2 at home to the Teigns to climb back up the table. Teignmouth responded by defeating Kingsteignton Reserves 4-1 on Thursday night. Another midweek match saw Hookhills overcome Bishopsteignton United 3-1 for their seventh win of the campaign. Brixham Town and Newton united usually serve up plenty of goals, but last Saturday proved to be an exception, Cameron Gill’s strike enough for United who picked up their first points in five matches. Had Abbots not pulled off their shock win, Waldon Athletic Reserves would have moved off the bottom after their first points of the year, the Clarets winning 3-2 at Paignton Saints. This was a game of two halves with Saints taking control in the first period and being unlucky not to have been a few goals up by the break. Saints were awarded a penalty but Billy Reay in the Waldon goal saved Jason Dingley’s effort. It wasn’t long after that Saints did take the lead though, a lovely ball from Joe Jordan finding Luke Johnson who calmly placed the ball past Reay. One-nil down, Waldon came out battling in the second half and scored three quick-fire goals before Matt Reed got one back for Saints. But it wasn’t to be enough and the Clarets held on for a much-needed three points.
In Division Three, Salcombe Town reverted to winning and goalscoring form on Saturday with nine goals and a clean sheet at Upton Athletic Reserves; Ashley Yeoman managed another four, Nick Bonnet scored twice and there were singles from Ollie Stallard, Lee Merchant and Duncan Scales. But it looks like Dartmouth AFC Reserves will soon overtake the leaders given their six games in hand in which to make up their six point deficit. Darts picked up three points from Waldon Athletic’s inability to form a third team to play them on Saturday, and added to their points tally with a resounding 5-0 midweek win at home to Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves. Liverton United Reserves held on to third spot with a 2-2 draw against East Allington United Reserves last Saturday, picking up another win on Thursday night as they hammered visiting Ipplepen Athletic Reserves. AFC Staverton are two points behind the Lillies following home and away draws against Chudleigh Athletic Reserves. There’s a lively battle going on between Harbertonford Reserves and Torbay Police in fifth and sixth respectively. The two teams went head to head on Saturday and Tuesday, with Ford held 3-3 at home before crashing 6-1 away! They regained their fifth place on Thursday though by winning one of their games in hand 3-1 against Teign Village. Ipplepen had also picked up three points at the expense of Teign Village, beating them 3-0 on Saturday. Bottom club Dittisham United’s second win of the season, 2-1 at home to Buckfastleigh, saw the Plums gain on Waldon Thirds who also lost 1-0 at Upton Athletic Reserves in midweek. Dittisham’s joy was short-lived though, East Allington cruising to a 4-0 win over them on Tuesday evening.
Roselands Reserves won 5-1 at Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves last Saturday to maintain a healthy lead at the top of Division Four. On a bad week for the Greens, Watcombe Wanderers Thirds provided something to smile about as they crushed Barton Athletic 8-1. The one-sided scoreline was hardly surprising with Sean Finch turning out for the hosts. Finch and Sam Pyne bagged hat-tricks with Stephen Rohan and Ethan Foster completing the score-sheet. Watcombe picked up another three points on Tuesday, winning 3-1 at Paignton Villa Reserves. Riviera United gained on Barton with 2-1 victories against Meadowbrook Athletic and Torquay Town. United players scored all three of the goals as they edged Meadowbrook 2-1 at Whiterock. Meadowbrook finally saw their dire run of losses come to an abrupt end in midweek though, Athletic winning 2-1 at cup runners-up Newton Rovers on Tuesday and thrashing Ilsington Villa 4-1 on Thursday. Other Saturday results saw Ashburton Reserves win 2-1 against Paignton Villa Reserves and Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves lift themselves from the bottom with a 3-1 victory over Kingsbridge and Kellaton United. One other midweek result saw Torquay Town close the gap on opponents Ashburton Reserves to just two points with a 3-1 triumph.
In Division Five, Riviera United Reserves clambered to the top of the pile with a 3-0 triumph away at Barton Athletic Reserves followed by a 1-1 draw at home to second-placed Broadhempston United Reserves on Wednesday night. Broads had moved above Moretonhampstead on Saturday with a 4-0 away win at Newton Rovers Reserves as Newton United Reserves drew 0-0 at home to the former leaders who are now without a win in the last three. Torbay Police Reserves are just a point off the top three now after the Bees won 3-0 away at Malborough United. Buckland and Milber bounced back from their recent loss at Riviera United with a 4-1 home win over Stoke Fleming and Strete, Cory Brennan, David Clifford, Danny Harry and Matt Winsor with the goals. In-form Paignton Saints Reserves made it three wins in a row; Saints won a tight affair on Saturday with goals from Aaron Underhill, Matt Hall, Matt Furness and Ian Simons enough to beat Watts, Blake and Bearne AFC who battled hard but couldn’t get a foothold in the game. Sean Paul Hooton provided the assist for three of Saints’ four goals in this 4-2 victory. Saints then ran out comfortable winners in their Wednesday night trip to Newton Rovers Reserves. In fact, if it wasn’t for some good saves from the home ‘keeper and chances wasted in front of goal the score-line could have been higher. As it was, two more goals from Aaron Underhill, taking his tally into double figures, and one apiece for Harley Kirwin, Tom Barnett Hand, Jake Hancock and Matt James meant that Saints ran out 6-1 winners. Patrick O’ Sullivan also starred for the visitors, providing three assists and only denied a goal of his own by a fine save. Finally, Barton’s 5-1 midweek home win over Chudleigh Athletic Thirds keep the latter bottom on goal difference.
