Article and photo by Tom Besford.
As some of the teams in our league sneak up towards the half way point of the season already, we have another full fixture list of entertaining games including the second encounter between some sides already this campaign.
The league table is really starting to take shape now as we head ever closer to Christmas and the colder weather. It is also important to remember that, due to the dark nights closing in, the majority of games in the league are now kicking off at 2.15 pm with the exception of North Molton SC v Dartmouth this weekend, who remain with a 3 pm kick off.
Appledore v Bere Alston United:
It is the longest trip in the league this weekend as second from bottom Bere Alston United make the mammoth trip to Appledore for the first meeting between the two teams this season. The hosts now sit third in the division and had gone on an unbeaten run of seven games until their last outing, where they lost 3-0 at second placed Plymouth Marjon. The run of seven games without defeat dated back to August and included a 3-2 win at top of the table Alphington, and the Fishermen will be hoping to start another run of form as they look to close in on the teams above them in the table. The visitors come into this match having lost 1-0 at Dartmouth last weekend, thanks to a very late winner, but are unbeaten in their previous two games prior with a 6-1 win against Ipplepen Athletic and a 2-2 draw against Budleigh Salterton. It will be a tough ask for the visitors to get anything from this game, but as we all know, anything can happen on the day.
Beer Albion v Plymouth Marjon:
The hosts currently sit in ninth spot following some mixed form this season which has seen them win six and lose five of their thirteen games, but they will be hoping for some revenge following a 3-1 loss at the Campus earlier in the season. Second placed Marjon will be looking to get the double over their hosts but will know that the Furzebrake is no easy place to win, as Beer Albion remain unbeaten at home in the league this season. Beer won this fixture 1-0 last season and so Marjon will be hoping to get their first win in East Devon.
Elmore v Alphington:
It has only been just under a month since these two sides last met, going head to head in the ThirstFitness League Cup. It was a very even match that day, and it required penalties for the two sides to be separated. Since then, Alphington have won all three of their games in all competitions whilst Elmore have won 6-0 in the Devon Premier Cup and lost 5-0 at Exeter University in the league. The Eagles have won six of their eight home games in all competitions this season whilst Alphington are unbeaten in their eight away games. Everything suggests that this is going to be another close encounter.
Newtown v Budleigh Salterton:
Eleventh against twelfth in what should be an evenly matched game, as two teams struggling for form come head to head. Both sides have already met this season as Budleigh Salterton won the return fixture 2-1 in September, and Newtown will be looking for revenge as they will hope to pick up their first win since September. The Robins haven’t won in the league since beating Newtown on the 11th of September, so they will be hoping for seventh time lucky. Budleigh Salterton currently sit bottom of the form table whilst Newtown occupy thirteenth spot, both teams will be looking at this game as a winnable match to hopefully give their side some confidence.
North Molton SC v Dartmouth:
The only 3pm kick off in the league this weekend, as North Molton SC will be looking for instant revenge after losing 4-1 at Dartmouth in their last league game. It has been a hard start to the season for the north Devon side who have only managed two wins in their opening twelve games, as they sit just three points above bottom of the table. Dartmouth have had mixed form since relegation from the South West Peninsula League and have won seven and lost six of their first fourteen league games but come into this game having won their last two.
Ottery St Mary v Ipplepen Athletic:
The visitors find themselves bottom of the league so far and have been shy in front of goal with an average of just one goal per game. The Pens make the journey to Ottery St Mary looking for revenge from the opening day defeat, where the Otters won 3-1 at Moor Road, hoping to make the most of the hosts recent mixed form which has seen them win one of their last three. Due to grounds maintenance, the Otters haven’t played many home games this season, but they have won three of the four games they have hosted, including a comfortable victory over the University of Exeter. Although bottom of the league, Ipplepen come into this game on the back of a 2-1 ThirstFitness Cup victory against Budleigh Salterton and a 1-1 draw in the league against Newtown.
Plymstock United v University of Exeter:
Struggling Plymstock United welcome last season’s league champions to Dean Cross hoping to use home advantage to try and pull away from the bottom of the table. Whilst scoring goals isn’t too much of an issue for the hosts, as they have scored in ten of their last eleven league games, defensively they will have to try and work on the average of 2.8 goals conceded per game. University of Exeter have managed to get to fourth in the league table and scoring goals doesn’t seem to be a problem for them either, as they average 3.9 goals scored per game. This game could see plenty of goals.
Topsham Town v Thorverton:
Topsham Town remain unbeaten at home this season with five wins from their opening five home games, as they continue to push near the top of the table. Last time out, Topsham beat Beer Albion 3-1 at home, and they will be looking to add further to their winning streak. Their visitors narrowly lost 1-0 at Alphington last weekend but prior to that won their previous three league games 1-0. This fixture last season saw the two teams play out a pretty uneventful 0-0 draw, but both teams are having a much better season this time around so hopefully we will see some goals. Thorverton (pictured) have already won the return fixture 3-1 back in August.