Darts Run Riot and Waldon and Watcombe Share the Spoils: Local Football Round-Up Part 3/3
In only the sixth Premier Division fixture of the year, Waldon Athletic and league leaders Watcombe Wanderers battled out a 3-3 draw at Windmill Hill.
The sole Division One match saw Buckland Athletic Thirds climb to the top of the table with a 2-2 home draw against Paignton Villa, the team they had beaten 4-1 away just a fortnight ago. Ben Cowling and Chris Newnham found the net for Bucks.
Buckfastleigh Rangers enjoyed a fourth straight win, in all competitions, moving up to second spot in Division Two with a 4-2 win over Abbotskerswell. Hookhills United also scored four, while keeping a clean sheet, away at Newton United to climb into the top six. And there was finally some good news for Paignton Saints who achieved their first league win, at the twelfth time of asking, by beating Bishopsteignton United 3-1 at the Broadmeadow Sports Facility; after ending up on the wrong side of a nine goal thriller against Bishops back in December, Saints always knew this wouldn’t be an easy game so had to work hard. Things started well after a ball from Ritchie Elliott to Shaun Cotton saw the latter take on a few players before firing in. Bishop soon levelled it up and the score-line stayed at one apiece until the second half when Saints stepped it up, Cotton setting up Jason Dingley to slot home for 2-1. Then, late on, Saints made sure of victory thanks to another goal from Cotton, this time set up by Luke Johnson.
The only league game in the bottom three tiers saw Roselands Reserves hammer Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves 9-1 in Division Four to open up a six point lead at the top.
On to the cups, and Karl Baker (pictured) and Josh Webber ran amok at Longcross as Dartmouth AFC thrashed Kingsteignton Athletic 9-0 in the Belli Cup; the duo scored four apiece, with Charlie Smith also on target. Last year’s runners-up Upton Athletic also marched into the last eight with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Loddiswell Athletic. It was a tighter affair at Poole Lane, East Allington United and Ivybridge Town Reserves locked together at 2-2 after 90 minutes before Ivybridge clinched the derby with an extra-time winner. Stoke Gabriel Reserves added their name to the hat with a 5-2 victory over Kingskerswell & Chelston.
Stoke Gabriel Thirds were also in the goalscoring mood. The Railwaymen racked up five without reply against Buckland & Milber in the First Round of the Dartmouth Cup. Beesands Rovers went two better, a four goal salvo from Lee Morgan, two from Gus Hayward and a single from Finley Bullen seeing the Bees to a 7-0 triumph over Kingskerswell & Chelston Reserves. Bovey Tracey Reserves edged Totnes and Dartington Reserves 3-2 while Ipplepen Athletic and Chudleigh Athletic shared eight goals at the Chudleigh Sports Centre. Chudleigh made it through with a 4-2 shootout victory.
Teignmouth Reserve’s good run of form carried on into the divisional cups as they beat Kingsteignton Athletic 5-1 in the Lidstone Cup.
Braces from Lee Merchant and Ashley Yeoman helped Salcombe Town slam Upton Athletic Reserves 5-0 in the Ronald Cup, while Ipplepen Athletic Reserves, just like the firsts, had to endure penalty drama after their tie with Torbay Police ended 2-2 after 90 minutes and 3-3 after 120. This time the Pens found their feet from the spot with a 6-5 win on sudden-death penalties.
In a close fought tie, Danny Harry’s brace helped Buckland & Milber Reserves into the last eight of the Bill Treeby cup as they defeated Riviera United Reserves 4-3; Sean Harry and Matt Winsor also found the net. The Newton Abbot side took the lead through a good strike, against the run of play, after United had made a strong start, controlling much of the game. United pressed forward from the restart and were soon level through captain Adrian Uglow who lifted the ball over the ‘keeper despite him getting a strong hand to it. Buckland & Milber retook the lead shortly before half-time with cross-cum-shot which hit the inside of the Riviera United goalkeeper’s left-hand post before crossing the line.
United changed formation after the break and again equalised through a Luke Williams finish after some good work from new strike partner Ryan Duke. It now seemed they would take control and go on to win the contest but the home side once more took the lead. Simon Wallace’s side still tried to play their way back into the game but failed to get the ball out to the wide men and soon found themselves victim to another goal. But United were not done yet. Second half sub David Tucker was rewarded for his bravery when he refused to go down after taking a blow from the Buckland & Milber goalkeeper. Neil Ford pounced on the loose ball and knocked it in with his knee for Rivi’s third giving them a small glimmer of hope. However, despite Riviera piling players forward in the closing minutes, the full-time whistle blew to end their divisional cup hopes for another year.
Top faced bottom, with predictable results, as Moretonhampstead cruised through 6-1 against Chudleigh Athletic Thirds. Barton Athletic Reserves join them in the quarter-finals following a 2-1 victory over Stoke Fleming & Strete, Ashby-Pearce and Clarke scoring.
Finally, there was disappointing news for the SDFL’s County Cup sides with Buckland Reserves losing on penalties to Elmore in the Thrognorton Premier Cup; Ashburton losing 2-1 against the University of Exeter and Roselands beaten 3-1 by Exmouth Amateurs in the Firewatch Devon Senior Cup quarter-finals and Whipton & Pinhoe ending Dartmouth AFC Reserves’ A&S Paving Devon Intermediate Cup run, also at the last eight stage. SDFL trophy hopes now rest on Watcombe Thirds who play Lakeside Athletic tomorrow in their Intermediate Cup quarter-final.
