The 2025/2026 A&S Interiors Devon Football League season kicked off in style with a Thursday night opener in front of a boosted crowd as Thorverton welcomed Elmore to the Recreational Ground. Whilst the crowd were unable to witness the first goal of the new season, they were treated to an entertaining match which resulted in two red cards as the two sides battled out a goalless draw to record their first point of the season.

The first half started slowly in typical early season fashion as neither team could take control of the game and struggled to create any chances on goal. A lot of loose passes was the story of the opening exchanges as both teams cancelled each other out. It took until the seventeenth minute for the first real effort on goal as Beckham Pyatt fired a loose ball over the top from the edge of the box. Connor Heard came close for Elmore shortly after as he headed over the bar from a free kick on the right hand side.

With just under half an hour played Henry Russell, the Elmore keeper, was called into action for the first time as Josh Hole shot from distance meaning the visiting shot stopper had to dive low to prevent the deadlock from being broken. From the resulting corner a ball into the box was headed back across the packed penalty area from the far post finding Chris Powell who headed onto the bar from close range.

The game sparked into life in the final ten minutes of the first half as the hosts were reduced to ten men as Josh Hole was shown a straight red.

Goalless at half time, the second half would require an improvement from both sides in front of goal if the crowd were to see the first goal of the season. With the visitors having a numerical advantage most would have expected them to push on in the second half but Thorverton kept battling on and kept the game even.

Connor Heard fired a long range effort just over the bar for the visitors early in the second half but with the game approaching the hour mark they lost their numerical advantage as they were reduced to ten. Charlie O’Loughlin was sent off for a late tackle in front of the Thorverton dugout.

The crowd were treated to the opening goal of the season just moments after the red card but it wasn’t to be as the linesman had his flag in the air to rule Reece Saunders close range effort out for offside.

Elmore had a couple of chances to win the game late on as Brandon Parsons received the ball inside the box with just the home keeper to beat but he could only fire his shot directly at Charlie Murby who was quick out of his goal. Cody Stansfield had a chance shortly after as a ball came into the box from the left but he could only put his effort wide of the target.

Overall a night to forget for both sides who struggled to create many chances in front of goal with a point apiece a fair result on the night.

Thorverton team: Charlie Murby, Ben Stevens, Reece Saunders, Reece Stevens, Paddy O’Loughlan, Beckham Pyatt, Sam Stewart, Josh Hole, Rocco MacPherson, Chris Powell, Joe Radford

Subs: Tom Day, Jacob Dack, Liam Saunders, Max Olivier, Billy Conabeare

Elmore team: Henry Russell, Harvey Hogan, Connor Heard, Ryan Shrewsbury, Charlie O’Loughlin, Matt Pengelly, Sam Jones, Connor Pearce, Brandon Parsons, Cody Stansfield, Freddy Ansley

Subs: Ciaran Payne, Sam Ord, Dan Cole, Jack Trevelyan, Ali Nabizadeh