Leaders Bucks Blast Four as Stoke, Greens and Teigns Slip Up
BUCKLAND ATHLETIC extended their winning run to three and picked up their first points on their travels as the Western League leaders proved far too much for hosts Longwell Green Sports. The Bristol side have a good record against the Yellows, but Gavin Hammon, Si Laughton and man of the match Lloyd Gardner (penalty) had Buckland three up before the interval. Then Ellis Laight adding to his growing tally after the break to kill off any chance of a comeback.
Adam Castle’s next port of call is Sherborne Town on Wednesday evening.
STOKE GABRIEL were the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline for the third time already this season as Saltash United took the points at the Kimberley Stadium. Joe Carey’s corner was headed home by captain Toby Clark after 24 minutes to put the home side ahead, but Stoke pressed hard after the break and were rewarded on 53 minutes as Ollie Aplin tapped in a low cross from close range after an attack down the right-hand flank. But the visitors went behind to another header, Simon Parnell finishing Lance Easton’s cross, and this time never looked like recovering.
After four away matches – and just one point from them – Tim Porter’s men finally open their home campaign next Saturday, Launceston the visitors to Broadley Lane.
TEIGNMOUTH and GALMPTON UNITED crashed to their first defeats of the season, both at the wrong end of 3-1 scoreline. Teigns were drawn away to leaders St Martins and went two down as Danny Pym scored a brace, one from the spot. Hayden Roe, already back at Teignmouth after a brief stint at Bovey, converted a penalty for the visitors but a late strike by Lee Parker ended their hopes.
After a goalless first half, Jack Howarth edged Budleigh Salterton ahead at Galmpton’s War Memorial Ground before Mark Broom and Piers MacLaughlin put them out of sight. Cameron Kelly headed a consolation for the Greens who slip to fifth.
Elsewhere it was good news for the South Devon contingent. TOTNES & DARTINGTON survived an onslaught from hosts, and last year’s runners-up, Appledore but held firm to keep a clean sheet and a share of the spoils. BRIXHAM AFC went two down at winless Axminster but goals from Scott Robinson, Scott Dodgson and Ty Hawken had turned the match on its head by the break. Dodgson then put away a second half hat-trick, including a stunning long-range free-kick to seal a 6-3 victory, the Fishermen’s second of the season. Matt Hawes edged BOVEY TRACEY ahead at the Western Counties Ground to give the Moorlanders a half-time lead against visiting Crediton United. Ben Pike levelled things up in the second half, but Ashley White’s strike, on the hour, put the home side back in front. Richard Blake was next to equalise for Crediton before Clifford Walters settled the issue in favour of the hosts with ten minutes remaining. Finally, it was good news for Justin Yeates as Liverton secured their first win, second half goals from Nathan Hebbes and on-form Curtis Booth ending the hopes of the University of Exeter.
Liverton face a stern test at home to flawless St Martins on Tuesday, with Newton Abbot Spurs at home to Galmpton United on the same evening.
A late goal flurry at Poole Lane saw Watcombe Wanderers start their SDFL Premier season on a high note. The Pirates of East Allington United looked to have earned themselves a point, but ended up on the wrong side of a 4-1 scoreline as the Greens scored three times in the last five minutes. Austin Booth scored his first goal for the firsts with Sean Finch, Royston Carrington and Lewis Woodmore also scoring. Tom Rowdon netted for the home side. Buckland Athletic Reserves also enjoyed a winning start, but had to pull off the mother of all comebacks to do so as visiting Waldon Athletic surged into a three goal lead by half-time. Spike Bond, Tom Pennicott and Steven Doyle had stunned the defending champs, but Neil Snell’s team talk must have done its job as Gav Collins’ double and strikes from Ben Head and Kieran Parkin earned the Yellows an unlikely three points. The afternoon’s other Premier match saw newly promoted Brixham AFC Reserves held 1-1 at Wall Park by Kingsteignton Athletic.
In Division One, two of the likely title contenders were in action, Ashburton and Buckland Athletic Thirds sharing six goals between them in the Division’s only fixture.
A brace from Liam Strong and a single from Rui de Garces earned Watcombe Wanderers Reserves the points at Abbotskerswell in Division Two and the other fixture saw relegated Buckfastleigh at home to Paignton Saints. Both teams played some good football at times with Saints creating the better chances but wasteful in front of goal. Rangers went 2-0 ahead with a fluke goal and a penalty, Ryan Porter and James Kelly opening their accounts, but, after trading chances with the visitors throughout the second half, were pegged back with five minutes remaining, Matt Reed scoring for Saints. With their tails up, Saints claimed a point at the death, Matt James poking home during a goalmouth scramble.
The lower divisions only saw four teams in action – but they scored an amazing 22 goal between them! In Division Four, Meadowbrook edged a ten-goal thriller with promoted Barton Athletic 6-4, while Moretonhampstead enjoyed an emphatic 9-3 victory over Malborough United. Clark starred for the home side, sinking an incredible double hat-trick in just 35 minutes!
Here are the results in full:
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Vanarama Football Conference:
Grimsby Town 2-2 Torquay United
Toolstation Western League Premier Division:
Longwell Green Sports 0-4 Buckland Athletic
Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division:
Saltash United 2-1 Stoke Gabriel
Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division One East:
Appledore 0-0 Totnes & Dartington
Axminster Town 3-6 Brixham AFC
Bovey Tracey 3-2 Crediton United
Galmpton United 1-3 Budleigh Salterton
Liverton United 2-0 University of Exeter
St Martins 3-1 Teignmouth
WBW Solicitors South Devon Football League:
Premier Division:
Brixham AFC Reserves 1-1 Kingsteignton Athletic
Buckland Athletic Reserves 4-3 Waldon Athletic
East Allington United 1-4 Watcombe Wanderers
Division One:
Ashburton 3-3 Buckland Athletic Thirds
Division Two:
Abbotskerswell 2-3 Watcombe Wanderers Reserves
Buckfastleigh Rangers 2-2 Paignton Saints
Division Four:
Meadowbrook Athletic 6-4 Barton Athletic
Division Five:
Moretonhampstead 9-3 Malborough United
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