Stoke Storm Past Bovey to Top Table
Stoke Gabriel moved a point clear at the top of the Peninsula League Division One East with a convincing 3-0 home win over Bovey Tracey on Saturday. But Brixham AFC, who have a game in hand, also won, 2-1 at Alphington to keep up the pressure.
Ollie Booth struck first for the Railwaymen who knew that three points would move them back to the summit barring a big win for Newton Abbot Spurs in their home tie against Axminster Town. After 22 minutes, former Watcombe defender Lewis Woodmore doubled Stoke’s advantage with a headed goal. Liam O’Callaghan sealed the points with Stoke’s third.
Newton Abbot Spurs’ preparations were marred by the loss of Chris Metters and Lewis Murray shortly before kick-off and they were lucky not to go behind in the 27th minute when first Liam Cleal and then former Tiverton Town goalscorer Dave O’Connor, from a corner, struck the post. Scott Wells-Burr prevented Spurs breaking the deadlock on 35 minutes, beating away Shaun Bowden’s volley, before the 45th minute opener for the visitors, a fantastic 30-yard rocket from Nathan Warren which nestled in the top corner of Matt Bojar’s goals.
Ben Clay prevented Spurs’ equaliser, three minutes after the restart, as he headed player-manager Adam Dyson’s effort off the line. Moments later, Spurs had a mountain to climb, Ben Vine following up O’Connor’s long-range strike which had come back down off the crossbar. Spurs had a couple of further efforts to drag themselves back into the match but Dyson failed to hit the target after good work by Joe Andrews and Wells-Burr kept out a powerful Ian Wilkinson drive to ensure that the 2-0 scoreline remained intact and Axminster moved up to third. As for Spurs, the team who could have been top of the table had results gone their way, they ended the day down in seventh.
Brixham AFC move up to second spot, Reece Somers and David Worthington with the goals as the Fishermen overcame Alphington 2-1 away.
Elsewhere Liverton United dealt last season’s runners-up Teignmouth a blow with a 2-1 victory at Coombe Valley to move above their hosts. Only a lack of games keeps newly promoted Torridgeside from the top of the table, the North Devon side preserving their 100 per cent record with a 5-2 home win over Totnes and Dartington who shipped three in a calamitous three minute period in the first half; Bettis scored a hat-trick for the hosts. And Galmpton United still prop up the table after a narrow 3-2 home defeat to the University of Exeter, Luke Barner, Alex Parsons and an own goal for the visitors.
