Slim Pickings for South Devon – Full SWPL Round-up
Godolphin Whip Up Atlantic Storm for Stoke
by Tom Besford
After emphatically winning their first game of the season on Monday, Stoke travelled to Newquay for the second time in August looking for more points to push away from the bottom of the table. But Godolphin took an early lead when, after less than ten minutes, Aaron Dilley hit home a Phil Lowry through ball. Twenty minutes later and the hosts doubled their lead as Ross Fallens sent a curling effort past Stoke ‘keeper Dom Aplin and into the top corner.
Stoke came out in the second half the better team and looked like they could find a way back into the game, shooting down the hill towards the sea. But it wasn’t to be as, on the hour mark, Godolphin scored again, against the run of play, after Sam Fearon tapped home from close range virtually securing all three points. Sam Dicken had an angled strike smash against the bar just before Atlantic scored their fourth when Lowry tapped home through the legs of Aplin from inside the six yard box. The Railwaymen reduced the arrears less than a minute later when Tom Kelly took the ball past Semmens in the Atlantic goal before passing the ball into an empty net, but it proved too little too late. Ten minutes to go and Atlantic scored their last goal of the match when Lowry claimed his second, tapping home from close range. This was followed by a couple of late Stoke attacks when Neil Last (pictured) dragged a shot wide and, three minutes into injury time, Dave Worthington completed the scoring, lobbing the home keeper.
Both teams play midweek fixtures before contesting the reverse fixture in seven days time.
FT (Sat): Godolphin Atlantic 5 – 3 Stoke Gabriel
FT (Mon): Stoke Gabriel 7 – 0 Elmore
Bovey Tracey remain rooted after a 5-0 reverse at home to St Blazey although they will have been buoyed by their fight-back from two down to draw 2-2 at Witheridge on Bank Holiday Monday.
Division One East:
Teignmouth Toppled at Coombe Valley
by Martin Jones
A poor first half display from Teigns last Saturday saw them lose their unbeaten tag. Alphington took the lead in the 18th minute, Densham latching on to Ian Wilkinson’s poor back pass and rounding Aaron Ibbetson to score from a tight angle; and the same player doubled the lead in the 42nd minute with a far post header before, on the stroke of half-time, Howell converted Densham’s cross to put the visitors three up.
Teigns improved after the break and Craig Stonelake rifled home from 12 yards on the hour after Adam Fay’s shot had been saved. Five minutes later, Adam Dyson bundled home Chapman’s cross to bring Teigns back into the game. Geoff Breslan hit the post with a deflected shot and Isaac Reed smashed a shot against the crossbar in the 81st minute. Alphington held out to win the game a give Teigns their first defeat on the season.
Teigns had dropped their first points of the season, on Tuesday 26th August, when a hard working Brixham side battled to take a point in a game of few chances. But it was Teigns who had the more clear cut openings and should have kept their winning run going. Aaron Ibbetson made two good saves from long range efforts in the first half and Adam Dyson was unlucky not to score on his début, his lob pushed away by the visiting ’keeper. Sam Chapman always posed a threat but Teigns couldn’t break Brixham’s dogged defence despite playing most of the second 45 camped in their opponents’ half. Brixham almost nicked all three points in the closing stages when a cross shot hit the base of the post.
FT (Sat): Teignmouth 2 – 3 Alphington
FT (Tue): Teignmouth 0 – 0 Brixham AFC
[box] More detailed reports and team info to come from the other South Devon Peninsula sides, but in the meantime, here is the round-up adapted from the League website at www.swpleague.co.uk [/box]
Galmpton United moved level on points on Tuesday with a 4-2 success away at Newton Abbot Spurs whilst Liverton United enjoyed a 2-1 win at St Martins. On Wednesday, Totnes & Dartington trailed 0-2 at half time at home to Plymstock United but they came back to earn a point from a 3-3 draw. Then, on Saturday Galmpton United completed their take over at the top as they beat St Martins 3-0 and remain unbeaten. The one side still with a 100% record, Appledore, won 2-0 away at Brixham AFC to make it five wins on the trot. At the opposite end of the table Crediton United became the final side to get off the mark as they beat Totnes & Dartington 5-2 at Lords Meadow which means all 18 sides have tasted victory in August. The only other winners today were Sidmouth Town who beat Newton Abbot Spurs 4-2 whilst Liverton United and Okehampton Argyle gave the Halford faithful a good afternoons entertainment with a 4-4 draw.
