Cup upsets abound as clubs punch above their weight

WBW SOLICITORS SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE

The WBW (Solicitors) SDFL Premier Division sides didn’t have it all their own way in last Saturday’s Herald Cup Second Round, with two going out to Division Two opponents and several others having to fight for their place in the last 16.

The two sides celebrating upsets were Ipplepen Athletic and Buckfastleigh Rangers. The Pens have had a promising start to the season having lost only once in the league and already made it through to the Fourth Round of the Devon Senior Cup. Last Saturday they compounded Premier side Kingskerswell and Chelston’s disappointing start with a 3-2 victory at Moor Road.

Paignton Villa found themselves in the unfamiliar position of favourites as they hosted Division Two leaders Buckfastleigh and duly took the lead. But Rangers were back on terms before the break and neither side could find the net again until extra-time. The visitors then struck twice more to book their place in the Third Round. Ben Beeson, Ian Howse and substitute Matthew Grute scored Rangers’ goals.

Another Division Two side, Barton Athletic, also took their Premier opponents to extra-time. The score was 3-3 at Steps Cross at the end of 90 minutes before Roselands finally secured their first win of the season with four extra-time goals. Curtis Clarke led the goalscoring for the Red Army with a hat-trick, Benjamin Luck managed a brace and Tom Dunlop and sub Mike Farnham also weighed in with goals.

Two of the competition’s most successful teams in recent years, Newton Abbot Spurs and Watcombe Wanderers, went head to head in a close game at The Rec. Watcombe, who were denied a final place last season due to a rule infringement, made it through 2-1 thanks to goals from Rui de Garces and Chris Srdinko, Callum Noyce with Spurs’ effort.

Harbertonford also frustrated Premier side Totnes and Dartington in what would have been an all-Premier tie had Fords not had to pull out of the division. The deadlock was finally broken by Daniel Block, on the hour mark, who beat stand-in ‘keeper Callum Payne at his near post. Less than five minutes later Block scored again after getting a second bite of the cherry following a defensive block. Finn Roberts put the game to bed for Tots with 15 minutes remaining with a third goal.

Kingsteignton Athletic bucked the trend by sweeping aside their lower placed opponents, the Rams reaching double figures against Division Four’s Galmpton United, winning 10-3. Ashley Dove scored half of his side’s goals with Toby Pullman netting twice and Joe Clark-Farley, Louis Dickinson and, from the bench, Bradley Crocombe completing the rout.

That wasn’t the biggest goal haul of the day though. Division Two high fliers Meadowbrook Athletic embarrassed Torquay Town, from Division Three, with a dozen goals and a clean sheet to boot. There were hat-tricks for Myles Chalcraft and Liam Collings, a double for Jack Callaway and singles from Ben Bowhay, Anthony Goss, Matthew Williams and substitute Riley Niering-Whitmore.

The three remaining games also delivered relatively high scores. Bovey Tracey Reserves of Division One dispatched Division Three outfit Upton Athletic 8-1 with Oliver Clifford-Bourne and George Fice scoring twice apiece.

Kieran Heale, Charlie Nichols, Mike Tapper and Jamie Orchard also weighed in with goals for the Moorlanders. The all South Hams tie at Kingsbridge and Kellaton United went the way of visitors Loddiswell Athletic 7-1. Adam Keates and sub Jack Eades scored doubles with Craig Follett and Ben and Simon Tapper also netting.

The lowest ranked side to make it through so far are Newton Rovers. They knocked out fellow Division Three opponents Bishopsteignton United 6-2 with Gunny Uven and Lee Fletcher scoring twice and Tom Batchelor and Ben Fellows also on target; Lee Grimshaw scored both of Bishops’ goals.

There was only one game in the Premier Division but it delivered seven goals. Chudleigh Athletic raced into a three goal half-time lead at East Allington United and despite an Andy Davis brace after the break, they won the game 5-2.

Chudleigh’s goals came from James Bowden, Jack Salmons, Ryan Sanders and Mathew Carroll, who was also dismissed for picking up two yellows. East Allington also scored an own goal.

In Division One, there was a first win in three for Newton Abbot ‘66 as they narrowly beat Torbay Police 3-2 at Osborne Park with goals scored by Matthew Barkwell, Tom Lowe and Pedro Silva. Jack Walker scored a hat-trick and Curtis Marshall a double as Babbacombe Corinthians managed a first win of the season, 5-2 away at Broadmeadow STFC , Chris Bennet and Joshua Goswell with Broads’ goals.