Photos © Tom Besford
The final match day of a busy August sees a full fixture list with sixteen teams in action with Thorverton receiving a day off due to being the seventeenth club in the league. The opening month has been full of entertainment and goals and hopefully the rest of the season continues in this form.
Beer Albion v Appledore:
The hosts come into this Fishermen derby unbeaten at home this season with their only defeat on the road at Budleigh Salterton whilst visitors Appledore have had some mixed form so far this season. Two wins and two defeats from Appledore see them currently in tenth and they will be looking to bounce back from defeat last Saturday against University of Exeter. Last season Appledore finished as runners up whilst Beer Albion finished third and just three points behind the North Devon club, however, there wasn’t much more the East Devon club could do as Beer won both games 4-3 at home and 2-0 away. Beer Albion and Appledore joined the league at the same time prior to the 2022/2023 season and since then Beer Albion have a 100% record against Appledore having won the four previous league meetings.
Budleigh Salterton v Plymstock United:
Plymstock United picked up a point in midweek as they drew 1-1 at home against Bere Alston United whilst Budleigh Salterton lost 2-1 at home to Ottery St Mary. Both teams will be looking to bounce back in this fixture to pick up a vital three points having both had a rather slow start to the season. For the visitors, the Stockies have only won once in their opening six matches and would’ve been gutted to not at least get a point at Elmore last Saturday following a 4-3 defeat. Budleigh Salterton have lost their last two games at home and have only won one of their four home fixtures, a record which they will be hoping to improve in this fixture. Plymstock last won at Budleigh Salterton in 2014 winning 2-1 in the South West Peninsula League, however, both clubs drew 4-4 at Deans Cross last season.
Dartmouth v Alphington:
Dartmouth have had mixed form in their opening few Devon Football League fixtures with two wins and two defeats and come into this match on the back of a 1-0 defeat against Ipplepen in midweek. The visitors have been in fine form this season following their promotion from the Devon & Exeter League and remain unbeaten from their first five matches, however, a 0-0 draw at Beer Albion last week saw them lose their 100% record. This will be the first time the two clubs come head to head in a league fixture since the 2006/2007 season when they were both in the Devon County Football League, Dartmouth won both matches that season 4-1 away and 2-1 at home and you have to go back to 2000 to find the last time Alphington won against the Darts. The visitors will be hoping to continue their unbeaten form into September.
Elmore v Lakeside Athletic:
It has been a tough start to the season for Lakeside Athletic who find themselves as the basement club in the division with three defeats from three, it will be a tough match as they make the long trip to an in form Elmore side who currently sit third. Three wins, a draw and defeat so far this season for Elmore who come into this game on the back of a 4-3 victory against Plymstock United last Saturday. Elmore won their home game against Lakeside 6-2 in April last season as the visitors were going through some bad form and that made it six points from a possible six for the Eagles as they had already won the away game 2-1.
Ipplepen Athletic v Topsham Town:
Last season only one point separated these two sides at the end of the season as Topsham finished slightly better as they finished in eleventh spot. This season the two clubs are having completely different form as Ipplepen find themselves near the bottom of the division with their 1-0 midweek win at Dartmouth being their only three points to date. As for Topsham Town, the club have won three of their opening five matches and are currently fourth in the league, they come into this match though on the back of a midweek 3-1 defeat at Thorverton. Although we’re still in August, this is the second meeting of these two sides this season already and Ipplepen will be hoping to get revenge for a 3-0 defeat earlier in the season.
Newtown v North Molton SC:
North Molton SC have really struggled to repeat their fine form from the last two seasons which saw them finish fifth last campaign and second in the North & West Division the season prior. With just one draw in their opening three games, the North Devon side find themselves second from bottom and will be hoping a little run of form could pull them up the table a little. It will be tough for the visitors as they visit a strong Newtown team who are unbeaten since the opening day of the season, a run which has seen two draws and two wins. In this fixture last season Newtown ran out convincing winners as they won 8-1, however, North Molton managed to get revenge winning their home fixture 3-0 before beating Newtown in the semi-final of the ThirstFitness League Cup 4-3 thanks to a dramatic late winner.
Ottery St Mary v Bere Alston United:
The hosts bounced back from defeat last Saturday at Plymouth Marjon by winning 2-1 in midweek at Budleigh Salterton. Bere Alston United were also in action in midweek as a 1-1 draw at Plymstock United put an end to their three game losing run. Last season Bere Alston United picked up four points against Ottery St Mary with a 3-2 home win followed by a 1-1 away draw, a record which Ottery will be hoping to change in this fixture. This will be the first home game of the season for Ottery St Mary and they will be wanting to start their home campaign with a valuable three points.
University of Exeter v Plymouth Marjon:
The battle of the University’s as University of Exeter play their first home game of the season against an unbeaten Plymouth Marjon side. University of Exeter have only played once so far this season and they won the game 2-1 at Appledore to start their hunt to reclaim the league title. Plymouth Marjon are currently top of the division with four wins and a draw from their opening five games and already have an impressive goal difference of +16, eleven goals better than the next best goal difference. The University of Exeter claimed bragging rights last season as they won both games 3-1 and 4-0, a record which Plymouth Marjon will need to change if they want to continue their unbeaten run.