A gloomy Saturday afternoon in Plymouth saw bottom of the table side Plymstock United welcome Budleigh Salterton to Dean Cross in what turned out to be an entertaining game as the hosts lifted themselves from bottom of the table.

The match was barely a minute old and the hosts had a glorious chance to open the scoring as Joe Jasper beat the Budleigh goalkeeper to the ball, knocking it past him with an open goal to aim at but Jasper could only poke the ball wide of the target.

Plymstock started strongly and dominated the opening proceedings and they came close again moments later as Lewis Dickson shot through a crowded penalty area with his shot deflecting wide of the goal.

The side bottom of the table were on top but they knew it would mean nothing unless they could take one of their chances but much to their frustration the chances came and went without the ball ending in the back of the net.

James Sharkey in goal for Budleigh had to be alert as he pushed an effort from Mark Loudon onto the bar and then moments later Joe Jasper put an effort just wide following a great delivery from Brandon Jefferies.

Football is all about taking your chances and for Plymstock it looked like all the missed chances would come back to haunt them as Budleigh slowly started to get back into the game. With just ten minutes remaining in the first half the visitors were given a penalty as Charlie Goldsworthy fouled Shaun Joash. Callum Monks stepped up to take the penalty but as he fired his effort straight down the middle he could only watch as Kori Truscott saved well with his feet holding onto the ball to prevent any follow up effort.

As the half came to an end, both teams had chances in a match which could go either way with it looking like a game which would be remembered for the missed opportunities.

Just like in the first half, Plymstock had a golden opportunity to open the scoring within the first minute and the hosts once again took control of the match for the opening period of the half. Loudon hit a shot from distance which looked like it was going in until it whacked the post and away.

The majority of the second half saw the two teams cancelling each other out with clear chances being few and far between.

The visitors had their best chance of the half when a long shot from Harry Gibbings deflected and wrong footed the home custodian but Truscott saved well with his feet to keep the game goalless.

As it looked like the match was going to end in a stalemate it took a moment of magic with five minutes to go to secure all three points. A long ball forward was flicked on by a defender finding Matt Goodwin who volleyed over the visiting keeper and into the back of the net to the delight of his team mates and club secretary Dave Baskwill who went running down the side of the pitch in delight.

The Stockies climb off the bottom of the table but they know their work isn’t done yet as they travel to the new bottom of the table side Newtown next week. For Budleigh they fall to their third defeat in a row and will be looking to return to winning ways in midweek.  

Plymstock United team: Kori Truscott, Charlie West, Charlie Goldsworthy, George BirkBeck, Brandon Jefferies, Clark Drew, Mark Loudon, Sam Short, Lewis Dickson, Elliot Prangnell, Joe Jasper

Subs: Joe Eke, Jordan Hogan, Matt Goodwin, Spencer Guest, James Yates

Budleigh Salterton team: James Sharkey, Finley King, Shaun Joash, Callum Monks, Harrison King, Timothy Bradshaw, Harry Gibbings, Charlie Skinner, Kyle Bassett, Jordan O’Shaughnessy, Rohullah Mohammadi

Subs: Nathaniel Hawkins, Simon Withers

Devon FA in Newton Abbot was the venue for this season’s first Devon Premier Cup Semi-Final as a small crowd turned out on a Thursday night to watch Appledore take on the students from University of Exeter.

The match was very cagey, typical for a cup semi-final, as both teams cancelled each other out for the majority of the game. With chances few and far between there wasn’t much to write home about.

University came close to opening the scoring midway through the first half as a long ball was flicked narrowly wide of the target by Ben Harris.

The game desperately needed a goal to bring it to life, and this came just before the half an hour mark as the North Devon side opened the scoring with a goal of top quality. Jamie Bowden was 20 yards out when he produced a half volley sending the ball over the Students goalkeeper Ben Roberts and into the top corner.

The lead didn’t last long as the University found an equaliser as a ball into the box from the left found Ben Harris who sent a looping header over the keeper and into the back of the net. Just like buses, you wait so long for a goal and then two come at once!

In the second half the game was still very cagey but the Students lifted their performance and had more chances of note as they looked for a way to win the game. With the half just under ten minutes old, Matt Steer had a shot from the edge of the box which was deflected and gathered by Aston Keen.

University of Exeter weren’t afraid to shoot from distance as they were struggling to break down the Appledore back line and Sami Ahmadi came close as he fired a 25 yard effort off the crossbar. This was followed moments later by an effort from Matt Steer who was slightly further out and this time his effort flew into the bottom corner to put the Students in front for the first time.

Appledore knew they had to go for it if they wanted to progress to the final and this left gaps for University to exploit as Steer fired an effort towards goal from the edge of the box but Keen was down well to save.

University of Exeter managed to hang on for a place in the final with a semi-final win which won’t last long in the memory. Alphington and Plymouth Marjon go head to head on Tuesday evening in the second semi-final.

Appledore team: Aston Keen, Joseph Stevens, David Mason, Aaron Souster, Joseph Blanch, Kai Dymond, Joe Kelly, Jason M’Ginley, Jamie Bowden, James Harley, Morgan Taylor

Subs: Logan Warren, Adrian Ashton, Rafe Barnes, Kieran Jewell

University of Exeter team: Ben Roberts, Tim Barber, Joe Zamir, Ben Harris, Ollie Kavanagh, Adam Jones, Sami Ahmadi, Matt Steer, Sam Shearer, Michael Massey, Luke McIver

Subs: Alex Makris, Bertie Whymark, Harry Dunlop, Cohen Lee, Charlie Hewlett

Budleigh Salterton welcomed Thorverton for a rare Wednesday night game in the Devon Football League as clubs start to catch up on fixtures from all the wet weather at the beginning of the year. A good sized crowd turned up on a cold Wednesday evening and the question on the mind of most was would we see a full football match? With the thick fog making visibility difficult, it wouldn’t need to get much worse for the game to come to a halt.

The hosts were fastest out of the starting blocks and came close after just a couple of minutes when Evan Slater shot narrowly wide of the target. This is a chance missed that would come back to haunt the hosts as before long they found themselves with a mountain to climb.

Just moments later, Thorverton had taken the lead after an attacking run down the left by Rocco MacPherson resulted with the ball across goal being tapped in at the far post by Oliver Back to the delight of the travelling faithful and one soon became two just minutes later as the visitors were given a penalty. Sam Stewart calmly took the penalty firing into the bottom left hand corner.

Suddenly the hosts had their work cut out as they tried to find a way back into the match but they lacked quality within their final pass. As they continued to look forward they left gaps at the back and this gave the visitors a chance to extend their lead but Reece Stevens fired a long range effort just wide of the target.

Thorverton took the two goal lead into the break and the atmosphere inside both changing rooms would’ve been contrasting with the away changing rooms delighted with their first half whilst the hosts knew they would have to work hard to get anything from the match.

The second half begun just like the first half ended with the visitors making the most of the gaps at the back and they almost found a third as a long diagonal ball by Stevens found Beckham Pyatt who hit a first time volley just wide of the target. A moment which would have been a goal to remember in any game had it found the back of the net.

As the second half reached the midway point Budleigh were given a lifeline when the referee pointed to the spot following a handball by the Thorverton defender. Callum Monks stepped up to the spot and fired the effort straight down the middle and into the back of the net. Was this the start to a comeback by the Robins?

Just moments after conceding, Thorverton had the ball in the back of the net once again, however, this time the flag was in the air to prevent the goal from standing. As the ball took a deflection it fell into the path of Jacob Dack who finished calmly into the back of the net but he quickly spotted the offside flag disallowing his goal.

Desperately looking for an equaliser, the end of the game became one way traffic with Thorverton defending in numbers and they managed to cope with the majority of what was thrown their way. Shaun Josh had a great chance to level the score but his shot was well saved by the visiting shot stopper Toby Fletcher who flicked the effort over the bar.

Thorverton managed to hang on for all three points and the fog didn’t get any worse meaning we managed to get a whole game of football. Both sides now have a busy end of season schedule, like most clubs, due to all the weather early in the year as there are plenty more midweek fixtures over the coming weeks.

Budleigh Salterton team: James Sharkey, Kyle Peters, Miles Barron, Callum Monks, Harrison King, Finley King, Harry Gibbings, Charlie Skinner, Kyle Bassett, Evan Slater, Adam Watts

Subs: Jake Chudley, Jordan O’Shaugnessy, Timothy Bradshaw, Nathan Bochenski, Shaun Josh

Thorverton team: Toby Fletcher, Oliver Back, Reece Stevens, Ben Stevens, Joe Radford, Oliver Saunders, Beckham Pyatt, Sam Stewart, Will Burwood, Rocco MacPherson, Jamal Bokhammas

Subs: Max Oliver, Callan Stone, Alireza Nabizadeh, Paddy O’Loughlan, Jacob Dack

After weeks of floods and postponements due to the weather, Newtown played their first match in over a month as they welcomed Bere Alston United to Newton St Cyres in the constant drizzle. The pitch looked great considering all the rain although it soon started to cut up once the game had begun.

The hosts started the game the stronger side and had an early chance to take the lead after some quality football ended with the ball finding the feet of Rio Turl who lobbed the visiting keeper Ryelee Deignan but Turl could only watch as his effort went over the bar. Turl came close again midway through the first half as some great footwork on the edge of the box ended with a shot over the bar.

The game really began to open up with both teams having plenty of attacking play but the chances in front of the goal were limited. With the game flowing from end to end, both teams just lacked that final bit of quality.

As the first half ticked over the half an hour mark the deadlock was finally broken as the visitors took the lead. Following a foul on the edge of the box the referee played advantage with the ball finding Gino Garside who managed to stay on his feet following another tackle before firing past home keeper Frankie Follett.

As the first half drew to a close both teams had their chances but as the pitch was starting to get heavier the final bit of quality was lacking. As the whistle blew for half time, this gave both sides the chance to regroup and look at what to change on the pitch.

Whatever was said in the away changing room seemed to have it’s desired effect as the visitors came out strong in the second half and almost doubled their lead early on when Soul Pengelly ran towards goal from his own half dodging tackles but could only watch as his effort at the end was saved well by the Newtown stopper.

Follett, in goal for Newtown, had his work cut out in the second half as Bere Alston came out firing. As the match reached the hour mark the visitors came close again when a brilliant ball over the top found Vincent Wright-Harper Innis but he would’ve been disappointed as his shot was straight at the home custodian.

The lead was doubled moments later from a Bere Alston corner as a low delivery into the box was heading straight towards a defender at the near post but the ball went through his legs and to the feet of Tyler Copp who flicked in from close range.

Controversy followed before the game could restart following the goal as Bere Alston forward Vincent Wright-Harper Innis received his marching orders. After picking up a yellow card for diving minutes earlier, Innis was shown his second yellow card for dissent towards the referee and then was arguing with supporters refusing to leave the pitch resulting in teammates having to encourage him to head to the changing rooms.

Two goals up and a man light, many sides would’ve changed their style of play to ensure they saw out the fixture but Bere Alston had other ideas and added a third minutes later to almost certainly ensure the points would be heading back home. As Newtown had thrown players forward the visitors caught them on the counter attack and Pengelly was released through on goal before calmly slotting the ball under Follett and into the back of the net.

With twenty minutes of the match remaining, Newtown desperately looked for a way back into the game as they peppered the visitors goal but lacked the final quality as they looked for a goal. The hosts had a golden chance when Rio Turl got on the end of a long ball from keeper Follett but as he rounded the visiting keeper he could only fire over the bar with the whole goal to aim for.  

The visitors hung on for a clean sheet and returned home with all three points, as for Newtown they continue the search for their first points in 2026.

Newtown team: Frankie Follett, James Blain, Zach Tait, Ryan Finnimore, Ollie Evans, Alfie Murray, Rio Turl, Dan Gill, Ben Howard, Levi Burt, Cody Cox

Subs: Jake Ranger, John Smith, Lewis Piper

Bere Alston United team: Ryelee Deignan, Josh Monk, Bailee Deignan, Ben Clark, Tyler Copp, Charlie Phipps, Gino Garside, Harry Eaton, Vincent Wright-Harper Innis, Callum Mitchell, Soul Pengelly

Subs: Owen Jones, Darren Phillips, Ryan Moorhead, William Westlake

With most of the football in Devon wiped out due to the constant January rain, local supporters had to visit one of the counties few astro turf facilities to witness any action as University of Exeter took on a Bere Alston side ten places below them in the table in one of only two Devon League games to survive.

Bere Alston started the game the stronger side and had the best of the opening chances but their best chance came just after fifteen minutes when Alex Lowe sent a curling effort towards the top corner from the edge of the box but could only watch as the University shot stopper, Ben Roberts pulled off a superb save to deny the visitors the lead. From the resulting corner the ball fell to the feet of Ben Clark who fired over the bar from inside the box.

After having the best of the opening chances with the hosts yet to trouble the visiting keeper, the hosts were gifted an opportunity to take the lead as Harry Eaton fouled the Uni striker in the box and after a brief chat with his linesman, the referee pointed to the spot. Sam Shearer found the bottom corner from the spot albeit the best efforts from Bere keeper Ryelee Deignan who managed to get a hand on the effort.

After taking the lead this seemed to spur the University side into action and less than sixty seconds from the restart they almost doubled the lead. Bertie Whymark had the ball at his feet on the edge of the box but his curling effort went just wide of the far post.

The first half was slow starting but the second half sprung into life instantly as Uni almost scored straight from the off. Luke McIver got the ball on the edge of the box and sent a low strike narrowly wide of the far post.

Straight down the other end and the visitors reacted to almost conceding a second as they went on the attack and were awarded a penalty for handball. Ryan Moorhead sent the keeper the wrong way and with less than three minutes of the second half played, the game was level once again.

The early equalising goal seemed to spark some life into the game and both team had chances to take the lead but the students quality soon showed through and they were once again in the lead. Deignan pulled off a save from a Uni shot as he palmed the ball straight into the path of Samy Ahmadi who finished from close range. Moments later and the lead was extended as a corner fell to Harry Dunlop who fired into the back of the net from close range.

Bere Alston had their work cut out to get back into the game and to their credit they never gave up as they continued to look to get back into the game. With less than ten minutes remaining the final goal was scored as the hosts extended their lead further with Sam Shearer scoring his second of the game as he flicked the ball over the visiting keeper from close range.

With the three points University climbed to third in the league due to the majority of the games being postponed. Hopefully the weather starts to improve and we will see a return to action for most teams in the coming weeks.

University of Exeter team: Ben Roberts, Cohen Lee, Joe Zamir, Charlie Hewlett, Seb Limon, Adam Jones, Samy Ahmadi, Ollie Kavanagh, Sam Shearer, Luke McIver, Bertie Whymark

Subs: Lucas Coveney, James Batchlor, Harry Dunlop, Alex Makris, Jack Knowles

Bere Alston United team: Ryelee Deignan, Ryan Moorhead, Bailee Deignan, Ben Clark, Kieran Bond, Charlie Phipps, Alex Lowe, Harry Eaton, Robert Court, Sean Thomson, Vincent Wright-Harper Innis

Subs: Callum Mitchell, Darren Phillips, Owen Jones, Connor Johnson

Any clubs from one of our feeder leagues who want to apply to join the A&S Interiors Devon Football League for the 2025/2026 season are running out of time to apply.

Any club who wants to apply should contact the league secretary Dave Loder at secretarydevonfootballleague@gmail.com

Closing date for clubs to apply to join the league is December 31st 2025, no applications after this date will be accepted.

A real game of two half on a wet and horrible August afternoon as Ottery St Mary came from three goals down at the break to rescue a valuable point against last season’s runners up.

A small crowd braved the elements on a wet and miserable day to witness an entertaining six goal thriller and they didn’t have to wait for long after kick off for the first real chance of the game. Ryan Moody was clear through on goal for the visitors but a great save by Ottery shot stopper Owen Vosper prevented him with the ball finding team mate Jack Carpenter who fired over the bar.

Alphington looked like the team most likely to break the deadlock and they managed to find the back of the net on the quarter of an hour as a corner was whipped into the box and after some poor defending the ball fell to Dylan Isaac who managed to head home at the far post as Vosper flapped a hand at it but was unable to keep it out. The lead was soon doubled shortly after as the Alphas started to get into the game more and Tre Davey managed to finish into the far corner from inside the box.

Ottery couldn’t really test the visiting keeper in the opening half and it looked like the game was over before half time as the Alphas added a third before the break. Jake Haggerty impressively put a free kick from the half way line over the head of the home keeper and into the back of the net. Haggerty made the goal look effortless as he put his side into a commanding lead.

Ottery had shouts for a penalty waived away at the end of the first half but they had their work cut out if they wanted something from the match in the second half.

The hosts had the perfect start to the second half and it was less than five minutes before they found a way back into the match as Sam Pyne had time to take a touch in the box and finish past Leon Woodhead in the visiting goal.

It was a story of missed chances for Alphington as they wasted a hatful of chances with Owen Vosper pulling off some great saves but no chances came bigger than what they got gifted midway through the half. Vosper went to clear the ball down the pitch but ended up kicking the ball against Ryan Moody but both players could only watch as the ball went goal bound, hitting the post and staying out of the net. Vosper managed to recover to retrieve the ball and breathe a sigh of relief.

Substitute Evan Murry added some quality to his teams attack as he came off the bench and he went close from the edge of the box firing just over the bar. The visitors would come to regret these missed chances though as the hosts found another gear late on to rescue a point.

With five minutes remaining substitute Jamie Pitter curled a shot into the back of the net from the edge of the box to give the Otters some belief before being involved in the equaliser just minutes later. With two minutes remaining of normal time Pitter sent a corner into the box which Moody headed into his own net to level the scores.

A real game of two halves with the sides sharing the points as the referee blew the final whistle and the crowd dispersed. A real non-league classic with the hardy set of supporters treated to six goals.

Ottery St Mary team: Owen Vosper, Charles Norris, Aidan Shires, Jake Blackmore, Kai Champion, Jack Carpenter, Ethan Matthews, Connor Swingler, Sam Pyne, Harrison Bowyer, Mario Pislaru

Subs: Harry Carr, Henry Favre, Lewis Wilson, Luke Matthias, Jamie Pitter

Alphington team: Leon Woodhead, Jeff Angila, Jake Haggerty, Jordan Ford, Dylan Isaac, Alex Bond, George Bosworth, Joel Greenslade, Henry Woodward, Tre Davey, Ryan Moody

Subs: Evan Murry, Ben Annunziata, Charlie Gillard, Dre Johnson, Harry Wellaway

Boca Seniors have enjoyed their start to life in the Devon Football League so far as the North Devon side made it three wins in their opening three games as they comfortably beat Newtown in their first Saturday match of the season. Newtown to all their credit never gave up the fight and kept playing until the final whistle in search for a way back into the game.

It didn’t take long for Boca to hit the ground running and they found themselves in front after just five minutes. Zak Moran managed to get past the visiting keeper and shoot towards the empty net but his effort was denied by some great defending with the ball cleared off the line and out for a corner. From the resulting corner Bailey Robertson managed to get the final touch as he flicked the ball past Newtown keeper Harry Wilkins and into the back of the net.

Robertson was involved again shortly after as he almost added a second of the afternoon when he was played in on goal. Robertson just had the keeper to beat but dragged his shot wide of the far post.

Newtown slowly started to get into the game and although they had large spells of possession they didn’t really create many goal scoring opportunities as the Boca defence held strong and Newtown seemed to lack the final ball into the box. Rio Turl came close for the visitors when he curled a shot just wide from the edge of the box but it was comfortable enough for the home keeper to not be troubled.

James Blain tried his luck with an audacious effort as the half was approaching the last five minutes as the defender saw the home keeper off his line from over thirty five yards out. The long range effort had the keeper backpedalling but Blain could only watch as it dropped onto the roof of the net.

From the resulting goal kick Boca managed to play the ball down the other end of the pitch and double their lead. Ollie Curry picked up the ball, went on a winding run past several defenders and then managed to sneak his shot in at the near post with the helping hand of Newtown keeper Wilkins.

Boca led convincingly at the break but whatever the Newtown manager said to his players at half time seemed to do the trick as they came out like a completely different team. With just two minutes played of the second period the visitors almost found a way back into the game as Rio Turl sent an effort crashing against the bar.

Turl once again came close moments later as he weaved his way through the defence but his effort was denied by a fantastic save as Boca keeper James Thorne got his hand to it to push it away.

Newtown were given a life line just before the half way point of the half as Jake Williams tripped Billy Turl in the box meaning the visitors could reduce the deficit from the penalty spot. Up stepped Jamie Dingle who made no mistake firing down the middle. Game on?

Unfortunately for the visitors this goal acted as a wake up call for Boca and they found another gear to ultimately put the game to bed. Sub Ryan Hewitt did well to win possession back in the box and square the ball to Joshua Marinaro who had the easiest of finishes into an empty net.

Three soon became four as Hewitt found the back of the net himself as he beat the offside trap and finished into the far corner before Sam Box played through Kriss Boreham to finish the scoring for the home team.

Credit to Newtown who kept battling to the final whistle but it was the North Devon club who continued their unbeaten start to the season.

Boca Seniors team: James Thorne, Jake Williams, Ross Jones, Kriss Boreham, William Clarke, Joshua Marinaro, Phillip Kelly, Sam Box, Bailey Robertson, Zak Moran, Ollie Curry

Subs: Jake Hawkins, Ross Middleton, Daniel Harmer, Ryan Hewitt, Kyle Spear

Newtown team: Harry Wilkins, James Blain, Zach Tait, Ollie Evans, James Ansell, Rio Turl, Levi Burt, Cody Cox, Billy Turl, Ryan Gilpin, Jamie Dingle

Subs: Theo Herburt, Jake Ranger, Kyle Hall

Beer Albion edged a scrappy game against Ottery St Mary on Wednesday night as two teams of equal quality battled out a closely fought contestant in East Devon. The hosts sailed into a comfortable lead on Beer Regatta week before Ottery halved the deficit before half time. A second half that could’ve gone either way ended with the hosts adding an injury time third in an uneventful forty five minutes.

Beer started the stronger side and came close after just a couple of minutes when Joshua Daines managed to get a shot away from the edge of the box but Ottery keeper Owen Vosper was equal to the effort as he got down low to stop the ball sneaking into the net.

The home fanbase didn’t have to wait long until they had a lead as Beer were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box which was converted by Aaron Daniels. Hitting the ball low and hard it crept under the wall and into the back of the net.

Ottery battled back and came close when Mario Pislaru found plenty of space on the edge of the box and sent a curling effort just over the bar. Although a goal down the Otters continued to battle hard to try and find a way back into the game.

The visitors hit another setback with the game half an hour old as Ferenc Bodor was penalised for a handball and the hosts had a penalty. Jayden Rooke made no mistake in finishing to the keepers right as the Fishermen doubled their lead with both goals coming from set pieces.

A quick reaction was needed by the visitors and they got just that as four minutes later they had managed to pull one back. Sam Pyne saw his original shot blocked by the home custodian but managed to bundle in the rebound from close range despite best of efforts from the Beer defence.

With the game approaching half time the Otters almost equalised as a fantastic cross into the box by Ferenc Bodor perfectly found Seb Copp who could only head over the bar.

The second half didn’t throw up many quality chances until late on and the hosts would’ve been frustrated not to add a third when a long throw in by Samuel White found Charlie Ledger in the box who fired over the bar from within the six yard box.

With the game entering injury time Sam Waddon added a third as he bundled in from close range after the Ottery defence failed to clear.

Sam Pyne fired over the bar from the edge of the box as the visitors desperately looked for a late way back into the game but it was too little too late as the hosts hung on to take all three points.

Beer Albion team: Max Haywood, Samuel White, Charlie Ledger, Thomas Gardner, Harry Lawrence, Jayden Rooke, James Hill, Aaron Daniels, Billy Knox, Joshua Daines, Joshua Lund

Subs: George Harwood, Sam Waddon, Matthew Berry, Benjamin Hemmens, Archie Knox

Ottery St Mary team: Owen Vosper, Charles Norris, Ferenc Bodor, Kai Champion, Jordan Ford, Jake Williams, Mario Pislaru, Sam Pyne, Lewis Wilson, Connor Swingler, Seb Copp

Subs: Henry Faure, Luke Mathias, Harrison Bowyer, Noah Lovedale, Jamie Pitter

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