Article and photo by Tom Besford.

The Devon Premier Cup is always one of the most entertaining tournaments in the local football season, and the first round of this season’s tournament begun with strong winds dominating matches around the county.

Thorverton made the trip to Torquay to take on Waldon Athletic from the South Devon League Premier Division at a very exposed and cold Windmill Hill, and the wind was to be the winner as it dominated the game and made it hard for both teams.

Both teams started the game quickly as Thorverton moved the ball quickly down the wings but couldn’t get the ball in to a goal scoring position whilst down the other end, Waldon blazed a shot over the bar as they broke the back line, but the effort from Jacob Knapman wouldn’t have counted anyway as the offside flag had been raised.

The game was just approaching the twenty minute mark when the deadlock was broken as once again Thorverton broke down the left wing through Nathan Lee, and his cross found its way into the back of the net with some help from a strong wind. The visitors won’t care how the goal came about though as they took the lead against their unbeaten hosts.

Diego Barbero had to pull off a brilliant save as a headed effort from a Waldon corner was heading in, but the ball was tipped over the bar for another corner. Waldon were starting to apply some pressure as they looked for an equaliser, and Thorverton would have to dig deep to stay in front.

With just over five minutes until half time, Thorverton would have been frustrated to not double the lead as Lee had a chance for his second of the game. A Sam Stewart shot was saved by Waldon goalkeeper Kitson Glanville but it was only parried as far as Nathan Lee who fired wide of the target.

The visitors were made to pay for their missed chance as Waldon equalised with their very last touch of the first half. A cross from Sam Heath found the head of Danny Rushe as he guided the ball past Barbero and into the net to send the teams in at the break all square. The game didn’t even have the chance to kick off again as the half time whistle was blown.

As Waldon looked to push on and hopefully cause an upset, their task became even harder after fifty six minutes as they were reduced to ten men as Louie Roberts was given his marching orders for a second yellow card. The Waldon man lunged in on the goalkeeper meaning he was sent for an early shower.

Being a man down didn’t seem to affect the hosts at first and Les Afful, one of the two ex-professional footballers in their side, attempted an audacious shot from over thirty yards out after he saw the visiting ‘keeper off his line. Afful could only watch, though, as the ball went just wide of the target.

Thorverton were pushing to take the lead and their chances came as Chris Powell fired wide in a crowded box. Pressure kept coming down the left wing and a cross into the box was headed on to the far post with ten minutes remaining as Ben Stevens was on hand to fire in from close range to put his side back in front.

Danny Rushe headed a late corner over the bar as the hosts looked for a late equaliser, but it would never come as Thorverton held on to prevent a cup shock from occurring and progress into the next round.

Waldon Athletic team: Kitson Glanville, Olly Moxham, Danny Rushe, Kyle Doughty, Louie Roberts, Sam Heath, Ash Grimes, Harrison Arnold, Sean Finch, Tom Davis, Jacob Knapman

Subs: Keenan Breen, Les Afful, Joe Whitehead, Cal Feasby, Liam McKendrick

Thorverton team: Diego Barbero, Charlie Webb, Paddy O’Loughlan, Pete Hensor, Ben Stevens, Joe Radford, Sam Stewart, Ryan Moody, Nathan Lee, Dylan Isaac, Chris Powell

Subs: Jacob Dack, Piotr Czaja, James Stevens, Ben Mills

Article by Tom Besford. Photo ©Danni Hide Photography

The first week of the season without any midweek football means that all the teams will be well rested for some entertaining action this weekend.

With the league table starting to take shape, new boys Alphington remain unbeaten at the top of the table whilst Plymouth Marjon could claim top spot by winning their games in hand. At the bottom of the table, two teams continue to look for their first win of the season following their only wins being taken away following the resignation of Lakeside Athletic.

Alphington v Ipplepen Athletic:

Alphington have adapted to life back in the Devon Football League like a fish to water, nine games played and still without a defeat to their name. Four games into the season and Alphington had to fight hard to continue their form with ten men as they narrowly won away at Ipplepen Athletic who will be looking for revenge. The Alphas haven’t lost a home game in the league this calendar year and they will be hoping to continue that run of games, but they know they will be up against tough opposition. This will be Ipplepen’s first visit to Alphington for a league game, and with Ipplepen having an average of 4.5 goals in their games this season, it could turn out to be a brilliant match for the neutral.

Appledore v Budleigh Salterton:

The Fishermen and the Robins are well known to each other with both clubs having played in the South West Peninsula League Division One East for many years. Appledore have struggled to hit the form which saw them finish as runners-up last season, currently sitting in ninth spot in the table with just three wins from their opening seven games, whilst their opponents sit two points and one spot above them in the table. Last season, the two teams only met once with Appledore unable to raise a side for the trip to Budleigh, and the game in North Devon ended 0-0. The visitors have been a bit inconsistent so far this season and have won four and lost four of their opening eight games.

Bere Alston United v Topsham Town:

Bottom of the table side Bere Alston United welcome an in-form Topsham Town to the Down as they look for their first three points in the league this season. Although bottom of the table, Bere Alston United come into this game on the back of a brilliant win last Saturday in the ThirstFitness League Cup against holders for the last two seasons Beer Albion. Their visitors have been enjoying a great season so far as they have won five of their opening seven fixtures with defeat at Dartmouth and Thorverton the only two losses so far this campaign.

Dartmouth v Ottery St Mary:

Ottery St Mary clearly know where the goal is as they come into this match at Dartmouth having scored fourteen goals in their last three games. It was a slow start to the new campaign for the Otters, but they ended August in style with a 7-2 victory against Bere Alston United and carried that form into September winning 6-2 at North Molton SC. Dartmouth have had a bit of a mixed bag of results so far this season and have only won three of their first seven games but have also conceded four goals on two occasions. This game could have plenty of goals as both teams will be looking for a successful season at the top end of the table.

North Molton SC v Beer Albion:

It is fair to say that North Molton SC have had a bit of a disappointing start to the new season and this is reflected with the departure of their manager Sam Smith during the week. The North Devon outfit have just one win from their opening seven fixtures as they ended August with a win at Newtown. Beer Albion have better form than their hosts as they have won four of their opening seven games, but they know how hard a trip to North Molton is with a 1-0 win and 1-1 draw from their previous two visits. These two clubs also met in last season’s ThirstFitness League Cup final (pictured) which Beer Albion ran out 2-0 winners.

Plymouth Marjon v Thorverton:

Plymouth Marjon have been having a season to remember as they went unbeaten in their first six games which included a win at last season’s champions University of Exeter, however, they come into this fixture on the back of their first defeat as they lost 1-0 on the road at Topsham Town last Saturday. Opponents Thorverton have had a mixed bag of results this season with three wins, three draws and two defeats from eight games, however, they come into this game in form, unbeaten in their last four. For Thorverton, their last four games have included an impressive 4-1 win at Dartmouth and a 3-1 victory over a Topsham Town side who beat Marjon last week.

Plymstock United v Newtown:

With just two 1-1 draws this season from their opening eight games, it has been a tough start for Plymstock United who lost their only victory as Lakeside Athletic withdrew from the league. A 1-1 draw in their last game at Thorverton saw them move a point clear of basement club Bere Alston United with whom they’ve already drawn against this season. Newtown have drawn four of their opening ten games and have only won twice this season but come into this match on a five game winless run. Newtown have only lost one of their six away games this season as they seem to favour the away trips so far this season.

Match report ©Tom Besford. Photo ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR

As Autumn is officially upon us, the wet and horrible weather decided to set in this weekend but for the small crowd that braved the weather at Ipplepen Athletic’s Moor Road ground they were treated to a goal fest in a very entertaining match.

The hosts, who have only one league win to their name so far this season, started the brightest and they found themselves in front after less than two minutes as skilful winger Tom Kelly received the ball, beat his man and fired into the far corner of the goal.

Elmore didn’t let this early set back deter them and they pushed for an instant response and it took just under ten minutes for the Eagles to find the equaliser. Harvey Hogan delivered the ball to the far post where Lewis White made no mistake heading home from close range.

Ipplepen reacted to this set back and they soon found themselves back in front just three minutes after being pegged back. The ball into the Ipplepen box was cleared only as far as Olly Critchlow who was on the edge of the box and hit a wonderful first time effort past the visiting keeper.

The thrilling start to the game continued and it wasn’t long until the fourth goal was scored within the opening twenty minutes of the match, this time Elmore once again levelling. Brandon Parsons dinked the ball past Billy Courtier as the keeper came out to retrieve the ball.

It had been a thrilling start to the game and a great advert for local non-league football but unfortunately there would be no more goals in the first half even though Elmore came close on a few occasions. Lewis White heading just wide of the target from a Fin Crocker cross and just before the half time interval Mason King had time to turn and shoot in the box but could only fire narrowly off target.

A thrilling first half and if the second half matched the quality of the first, all in attendance would’ve been in for a treat. Thankfully, the second half was equally as entertaining.

The home side found themselves going down to ten men for a period in the second half as Olly Critchlow was sent to the sin bin and the visitors made sure to make the extra man count as they took the lead for the first time in the match. Parsons scored his second of the game with a massive helping hand as his free kick took a wicked deflection to leave Courtier with no chance in between the posts.

Elmore continued to put pressure on the Ipplepen back line as they looked to add more gloss to the score and could’ve scored twenty minutes into the half but an outstanding fingertip save by Courtier tipped the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.

It wouldn’t be long before the visitors managed to extend their lead and it was Parsons once again as he completed his hat-trick as he was released through on goal before cleverly lobbing the outrushing goalkeeper.

As the match entered into injury time there was still plenty of drama to come and it begun with Elmore adding another goal to their tally. Harvey Hogan fired a shot from the edge of the box through the legs of Drew Gove and into the back of the net, however, celebrations were cut short as Billy Courtier in goal for the hosts appealed for offside claiming that an Elmore attacker was impeding his view. A short chat between the referee and the linesman later and the goal was disallowed.

A couple of minutes later and Ipplepen managed to cut the deficit to one as a cross from the right found Critchlow who headed home into an empty net. Was there still chance for Ipplepen or was it too little too late as time was running out?

There would still be time for another goal though as in the sixth minute of time added on Elmore managed to score a fifth, Freddie Ansley completing the scoring for the Eagles. A long range shot past Courtier hit the post and Ansley had the easiest job of tapping the rebound into an empty net.

A brilliant match in awful conditions and one that will last long in the memory. Elmore showed why they have started the season so strongly whilst Ipplepen could count themselves unlucky, a performance like that could quite easily have been three points on another day.

Ipplepen Athletic team: Billy Courtier-Train, Josh Pagett, Josh Hurren, Derek Bridgman, Lee Fenner, Joe Wilden, Oliver Critchlow, Tom Kelly, Mason Joint, Charlie Cuss, Nick Edmunds

Subs: Drew Gove, Zak Carnell, Kieron Collings, Billy Robbins

Elmore team: Luke Philips, Kamil Wojtowicz, Harvey Hogan, Luke Broomfield, Connor Pearce, Dan Cole, Lewis White, Matt Pengelly, Fin Crocker, Mason King, Brandon Parsons

Subs: Cody Stansfield, Freddie Ansley, Joe Barry, Luke Andrews

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.

Match report and photos by Tom Besford

Thorverton continued their spell of back to back home games at the beginning of the season as they welcomed Bere Alston United to the Recreation Field. The hosts were in search of their first win of the season following a draw and defeat whilst Bere Alston arrived with a 100% record with a 5-0 win in their only game of the season so far.

The teams were very equally matched with both sides cancelling each other out and neither goalkeeper having much to do in the first half other than catch corners and long balls from the opposition.

Sam Stewart had the opening chance for the home side after quarter of an hour as he managed to beat the offside trap and fire his shot goalward but he could only watch as Michael Moore in the visiting goal pushed the effort onto the post. It was game of chances few and far between but the hosts looked the most likely to score as Ryan Moody burst into the right hand side of the box before firing over the top.

With the game nearing the half an hour mark the deadlock was finally broken as Moody was tripped in the box by Darren Phillips leading to the home side being given a penalty. Josh Hole stood up to the responsibility and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom right corner to give the hosts the lead.

This goal gave the game a spark of life and it was just over ten minutes before the lead was doubled, once again from the penalty spot. Connor Johnson was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box and so the hosts were able to double their lead with their second penalty. Hole stood up once again and placed the ball in the same place but this time it was saved by Bere Alston keeper Michael Moore. Unfortunately for the visitors the penalty save was followed by Hole being on hand to tap in the rebound from close range.

Bere Alston United had to look for a way back into the game and this meant that gaps were left at the back resulting in almost conceding a third. A short back pass was gathered by Nathan Lee who fired a shot past Moore in goal but could only watch as it hit the post before being cleared by a visiting defender.

Bere Alston had their work cut out in the second half and they put the pressure on the home defence as they searched for a way back into the match. The visitors did manage to halve the deficit with just over quarter of an hour to go as Darren Phillips found the back of the net to make it a goal scoring afternoon for both players wearing the number three shirt. After a lucky one two with a team mate on the edge of the box Phillips received the ball back and fired into the bottom corner.

It would turn out to be too little too late for the visitors as they put pressure on the home goal for the final ten minutes but couldn’t manage to find an equaliser. The South Devon side came close with just a few moments to play when the ball fell to Johnson on the edge of the box who shot through a crowded area only to see his effort cleared before it could reach the goal.

Thorverton team: Diego Barbero, Charlie Webb, Josh Hole, Pete Hensor, Ben Stevens, Myles O’Reilly, Sam Stewart, Ryan Moody, Nathan Lee, Jacob Dack, Dylan Isaac

Subs: Beckham Pyatt, Paddy O’Loughlan, Chris Powell, Piotr Czaja, Oliver May

Bere Alston United team: Michael Moore, Ryan Moorhead, Darren Phillips, Robbie Court, Josh Monk, Callum Massey, Connor Johnson, Ben Clarke, Jak Plummer, Harry Eaton, Soul Pengelley

Subs: William Westlake