Stoke, Spurs and Brixham Eye Peninsula East Top Spot
Stoke Gabriel lead a pack of three South Devon clubs aiming to be top of the Peninsula Division One East after today’s round of matches. With leaders Crediton United without a league fixture until 20th September, the Railwaymen know that a home win over Bovey Tracey should see them return to the top the table although third-placed Newton Abbot Spurs, who host Axminster Town, are level on points and only two goals behind on goal difference. Should neither side win their home games, Jason Couch’s Brixham AFC could leapfrog the whole pack with victory at Alphington.
Since their loss to Brixham on the 24th August, Stoke have won twice, beating Crediton 4-1 at Broadley Lane on the 27th August – Tom Kelly, Josh Webber, Dean Stevens and Ollie Booth with the goals, Steve Goss with Creddy’s consolation – and hammering Axminster 5-0 away last weekend, Critchlow with a hat-trick in that game, Webber and Booth with the first two . Between those games they fought out a 2-2 draw at Galmpton United on the last day of August, Critchlow and Webber on target there.
Adam Dyson’s Newton Abbot Spurs’ will hope to make it seven unbeaten after a fantastic recent run of results. Following their exciting ‘Groundhog Day’ win at Appledore, Spurs have drawn 2-2 with the Vikings of Sidmouth Town on 27th August, beaten Totnes and Dartington 2-1 away, three days later, won 3-1 away at Budleigh Salterton last Saturday and topped it all with a resounding 4-0 home success over Galmpton on Tuesday night.
Brixham have had mixed fortunes, edging Axminster 3-2 away on the 27th August but losing out 3-1 at Wall Park to Appledore last Saturday.
Elsewhere, Teignmouth are looking for a third successive win as they host a Liverton United side who seek to bounce back from last week’s 3-0 home loss to newly promoted Torridgeside who are yet to drop points. Both sides have enjoyed good form this season with Teigns winning 2-1 at home against both St Martins and Alphington in recent weeks and Justin Yeates’ Lillies beating St Martins 2-0, Sean Finch with both, and the University of Exeter 4-3, both games at Halford.
Bovey Tracey have only played four games so far: they lost out 3-1 to the University of Exeter last weekend but beat Exwick Villa 3-1 in their previous fixture.
Tim Porter’s Totnes and Dartington, who go to Torridgeside today, have failed to pick up a point since that victory over Teignmouth, their home loss to Spurs sandwiched between a heavy 7-2 defeat at Appledore and a 2-0 reverse at Sidmouth.
Galmpton United prop up the league though with that home point against Stoke their only one so far. As well as their loss to Spurs, the Greens went down 3-1 at home to Budleigh Salterton and 5-2 away at St Martins. Tony Bowker will be hoping that home advantage will give them a chance against the University of Exeter today.
