Watcombe Sweep Into Another Final Against Brixham
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Premier Cup finalists Watcombe Wanderers and Brixham AFC will meet each other again four days later, as both booked their places in the George Belli Cup final in two very different matches.
Watcombe emphasised their dominance with an emphatic 10-0 triumph over Watts, Blake & Bearne. Sean Finch and Curtis Booth put away hat-tricks, Taimak Wilson managed a brace and Pete Summerfield and Mike Fieldhouse added their names to the impressive tally.
Upton Athletic were a sterner test for Brixham, holding the league leaders to a 2-2 draw over ninety minutes, before their only hope of silverware was denied them in extra-time.
A trio of lower league sides secured back-to-back divisional cup finals. Dartmouth Cup holders East Allington United sailed past Buckfastleigh Rangers with a 7-1 win at the Duckspond; Josh Pascoe and Si Hannaford put away hat-tricks, with Dan Robey also scoring and Lewis Cox with Rangers’ strike. United defend their trophy against Teignmouth Reserves who knocked out Lidstone Cup holders Broadhempston United 3-2 at Coombe Valley. Phil Kingman did his best for the visitors, scoring twice, but Teigns edged through.
Les Bishop cup holders Buckland & Milber are in the Ronald Cup final, after squeezing out Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds 2-1, Josh Moore and Roland Blowers with the goals.
And Bill Treeby holders Roselands destroyed Paignton Saints Reserves 9-0 to secure their Les Bishop final spot.
Elsewhere in the cups, Jason Wilkes and T.J. Lang put Beesands Rovers into the Lidstone Cup final, while the Devon FA stepped in to award Harbertonford a First Round Home Walkover against Ipplepen Athletic Reserves. Ford will take on Brixham Thirds for a chance to meet Kingsteignton Reserves in the second semi.
South Brent will be Buckland & Milber’s opponents in the Ronald Cup final, the South Hams side defeating Watts, Blake & Bearne Reserves 4-2 to complete a dismal afternoon for the Claymen.
Dittisham had been given a second stab at the Les Bishop Cup, but their successive final ambitions were ended at Longcross, Dartmouth AFC Reserves keeping the club on course for two trophies with a 2-1 quarter-final victory.
And Preston South End ended Torbay Police’s hopes of consecutive cups, winning their Bill Treeby semi 3-2.
In the Premier League, Newton Abbot Spurs passed up the chance of another stint in the driving seat with a 5-1 reverse at home to Loddiswell Athletic. Lodds got off to the perfect start with a goal inside five minutes: Spurs goalkeeper Dan Prior slipped as he took a goal kick leaving Chris Smallridge with the simple task of slotting into an empty net. The home side equalised on 25 minutes, Jamie Meaden taking advantage of another keeper error after Simon Tapper had dropped the ball. But just two minutes later, another Prior error gifted Myles Chalcraft an opportunity he couldn’t miss, and Lodds found themselves 2-1 up.
Following the interval, it took Lodds just one minute to extend their lead, Danny Tucker’s shot creeping in off the post. And despite a number of chances, Spurs failed to close the gap between the sides before Tucker arrived unmarked, six yards out, to seal the game on 70 minutes. Chris Smallridge added his second 10 minutes later as the visitors from the South Hams eased to three points.
Kingskerswell & Chelston manager Paul Edwards has never finished lower than sixth, and a 4-0 victory at rock-bottom Ipplepen Athletic moved his side into the top six. Waldon Athletic collected an impressive three points in a 6-3 win over Ivybridge Town Reserves, while Kingsteignton Athletic edged closer to safety with an important point at home to Stoke Gabriel Reserves.
A 4-0 win at Chudleigh Athletic keeps Bovey Tracey Reserves at the front in Division One, but Dartmouth AFC swept bottom side Abbotskerswell away to stay on their tail, Dan Broadway and Karl Baker with hat-tricks, Forrester, McRoy, McCauley and R Baker with singles. Newton Abbot ’66 once more showed their promotion credentials with a 5-1 home victory over Totnes and Dartington Reserves. Buckland Thirds stay fourth after drawing 1-1 at fourth-placed Kingskerswell & Chelston Reserves Douglas netting for the Yellows.
Wins for Paignton Villa and Babbacombe Corinthians puts them four points clear at the top of Division Two: Villa enjoyed a stunning 5-0 victory at Newton United, while Corries defeated rivals Upton Reserves 3-1 courtesy of a Chancellor brace and a strike by Sumatpimolchai. Brixham Town went four unbeaten with a 1-1 draw at Hookhills, but other results keeps it tight at the bottom. Corderoy’s strike was not enough to stop Paignton Saints going down 2-1 at home to Brixham Thirds, while Foxhole enjoyed a home win against Kingsteignton Reserves, thanks to goals from Bolus (2) and Highfield.
Runaway Division Three leaders Ashburton slipped up, losing 2-0 at Loddiswell Athletic Reserves with Jon Burt and Daniel Rowe on target. Waldon Reserves are still in with a promotion shout; they won their first match since November, at East Allington Reserves. Tots Thirds moved above Bishopsteignton with a 2-1 victory at Michael’s Field.
In Division Four, Watcombe Wanderers Reserves narrowed the gap on the top two with a 4-1 win at second-place Waldon Athletic Thirds; Simon Ross scored twice, with Luke Barton and Jordan Finch completing the scoring. Salcombe’s 3-2 win at Bovey Thirds keeps the Moorlanders in trouble, Hobday (2) and Johnston with Town’s goals. But despite Lee Smith’s goal ensuring a first point since November, Meadowbrook still occupy the one relegation spot. Opponents Paignton Villa Reserves scored through Nathan Gutierrez.
In Division Five, Martin Richards rescued a point for leaders AFC Staverton against a good Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves side. Ryan Porter had put the visitors in front until Richards’ 88th minute strike. Roselands Reserves won 2-1 at Polonia Torbay to hang on to third, though even wins in their last three fixtures would be unlikely to keep them there for long. Aaron Underhill and Anthony Smith won Newton Rovers the points in the Bakers Park derby against Newton United Reserves who scored through Paul Gutteridge. Seven points out of a possible nine lifted Moretonhampstead another place up the table, they won 3-2 at home to Riviera United with Rui de Garces and James Snell again amongst the goals, Darren Siwiec also scoring. Corries Reserves came out on top in an eight-goal thriller at Broadhempston Reserves; Corries move into the top six. Chris Meekings (2) and Cory Brenning found the net as Buckland & Milber Reserves won a vital three points at home to Newton ’66 Reserves.
Watcombe Wanderers Thirds won the battle of the top two in Division Six, Luke Rhodes (2) and Jamie Carter sealing a 3-0 win over Barton Athletic. The battle for third is warming up nicely, with Stoke Fleming & Strete beating Malborough United 1-0 to make it three successive victories and clean sheets, and bottom club Ashburton Reserves surprising Kingsbridge & Kellaton 5-1. Torre also ended a run of five defeats with a narrow 3-2 win at Teign Village Reserves.
