List of Pre-season Friendlies: Enjoy Some Summer Football

BACK TO BUSINESS: Mount Gould and Newtown closed the 2022/23 season by competing in the Devon Premier Cup. Both sides are now preparing for the season ahead. ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR

DFL sides have already returned to action with Mount Gould, Lakeside Athletic, Elmore and Plymstock United all in action last Saturday. Here are the rest of the confirmed pre-season fixtures (as of 3rd July).

Please note that these fixtures are subject to change. Please check with the clubs before travelling.

Click the table headers to sort by column and find your team more easily!

devon football league cup

Beer Albion Comeback Stuns Mount Gould in Six Goal Thriller

Match report & photo by Tom Besford

Beer Albion came from behind to win the Scott Richards Solicitors League Cup final against a Mount Gould side who had remained unbeaten after winning every match they have played this season. The final was ninety minutes full of drama with six goals, two red cards and a match which will live long in the memory of the supporters in attendance.

Having raced into a two goal lead against ten men, Mount Gould looked favourites to win the cup but a spirited comeback, following a Chris Wright red card to level the numbers, saw Beer Albion secure the double in front of their large travelling support to cap off a successful first season at step seven.

Champions of the South & West Division, Mount Gould, were looking to add to their so far perfect season but North and East Division champions, Beer Albion, knew the challenge they had ahead. Barnstaple Town proved to be the perfect hosts as an enjoyable day was had by the large attendance and the match was a true advert for non-league football.

The game started lively and both sides had early chances as the match swung from end to end. After just two minutes on the clock Chris Wright headed wide from a corner and just a few minutes later Beer had their opening chance of the match as Taylor Rooke was played through on goal only to see his effort well saved by the feet of Mount Gould stopper Jensen Manning. The opening twenty minutes of the match saw both sides create several chances but they all lacked that final bit of quality as neither keeper was really called upon.

It took twenty minutes until the game sprung to life as Beer Albion were reduced to ten men following a defender being sent to the sin bin. This left the East Devon outfit with a set piece to defend from the edge of the box with a man light and they were duly punished as Chris Wright curled his effort into the top corner and out of the reach of Beer keeper Elliot Driver.

Things soon went from bad to worse for the Albion as straight from kick off they had a strong penalty shout waved away and as the ball was cleared Tony Pinder came flying in and mistimed a tackle in the middle of the park resulting in a red card. Suddenly Beer were down to nine men and they were instantly punished as a ball played out to the left wing was crossed back into the middle and Danny Brook finished into the far bottom corner for 2-0. Two goals down and two men light, Beer had an uphill battle ahead of them and it looked like the game was over already.

Although it looked unlikely that a comeback would be on the cards Beer Albion continued to press and when they had ten men on the pitch they created several chances as Ashley Driver headed just wide from a free kick and shortly after Josh French shot wide from distance. As the club pushed forward looking for a way back into the match they were leaving gaps at the back and this was almost punished as Bailey Mabin curled an effort just over the bar from the edge of the box.

The match continued to be played at a high tempo and from end to end and the number of players on the pitch was levelled just before the break as Chris Wright was sent off for Mount Gould. After a bit of handbags on the pitch, Wright grabbed one of the Beer Albion midfielders by the hair and this was spotted by the fourth official who reported the sighting to the referee leaving him with no choice but to give Wright his marching orders.

Going into the second half with Mount Gould leading by two goals and both sides down to ten men, everyone knew that the next goal would be crucial and it looked like it would be the Plymouth based side who would add to their already commanding lead. Within the first five minutes of the half Mabin and Owen Pritchard both saw their efforts blocked and just a few minutes later Matthew David saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Will House in the Beer defence. The club launched attack after attack as they looked for a third but it wouldn’t come as Jamie Grinrod saw a headed effort tipped over the bar by Driver before the Albion stopper pulled off another great save from the resulting corner.

The third goal of the match eventually came on the hour mark and it was Beer Albion who scored it as they looked to launch a surprising comeback against a side who hadn’t experienced anything but victory for the last twelve months. Brooklyn Wilkins broke free on the right hand side and as he broke into the box his shot across goal was converted into the back of the net, with the help of the crossbar, by Finley Rooke who slid in at the far post as the original shot was heading wide.

Could this be game on or was it going to be too little too late?

Only seven minutes had passed and Beer Albion shocked everyone in the ground by grabbing an equaliser as Taylor Rooke, who had caused the Mount Gould defence problems all day, beat the last defender before taking the ball around Manning in goal and finishing into an empty net to the delight of the Beer faithful.

With fifteen minutes left on the clock the turnaround was complete as Beer took the lead for the first time in the match thanks to substitute Giles Basson who managed to beat the Mount Gould keeper and the East Devon side added the icing to the cake by scoring a fourth with just a few minutes remaining. With Mount Gould desperately looking for an equaliser, Beer Albion managed to make the most of the gaps at the back and Taylor Rooke finished from close range following a squared pass from the right hand side.

A league and cup double for Beer Albion in their first ever season at step seven and a first defeat inflicted on Mount Gould in twelve months. As for Mount Gould, they can still claim the double when they face Newtown in the Devon Premier Cup final next month. A thrilling match full of drama and entertainment and played out in front of a brilliant attendance, it was a final that will live long in the memory of those who saw it!

mount gould fc

Mount Gould Maintain Perfect Season With League Cup Semi-Final Victory

Report ©Tom Besford

It will be a Mount Gould v Beer Albion final at Barnstaple Town next month in the Devon League Cup final as the Plymouth based club knocked out North Devon outfit North Molton in the semi-finals. The club, who have won every match they have played so far this season, were made to work hard for a place in the final, as a stubborn North Molton side battled hard in a real game of two halves on Wednesday evening.


A cold and wet evening at the Rec in Newton Abbot was the venue for the second semi-final in this season’s competition and the two sides knew that a place in the final against Beer Albion was up for grabs. Mount Gould came out the blocks quicker than their opponents, but the Stags defence held on before scoring a crucial equaliser in the second half. With it looking like the game would go to extra time, Gould struck late to the heartbreak of the North Devon club.


The first half wasn’t the most spectacular of matches with both sides creating few chances far and few between, but Owen Pritchard from Mount Gould started to cause a few issues amongst the North Molton back line with his bursts of pace. Shooting just wide after twelve minutes, Pritchard didn’t have to wait long to find the back of the net as just seven minutes later he was played through on goal. Escaping the offside trap with his quick burst of speed, the Mount Gould striker only had the keeper to beat and although he got his feet to it, Will Davis the North Molton keeper, could only watch as the ball was calmly slotted past him into the back of the net.


It was a first half of not much action to note and the uneventful half came to a close with the best North Molton chance of the match so far. The ball found its way to Oliver Stevens who hit a volley just wide of the target.


Whatever was said in the changing rooms at the break seemed to do the trick as the Stags came out a completely different side and they took the game to their opponents, barely letting Mount Gould cross the halfway line. The pressure from the North Devon club soon paid off and just under quarter of an hour into the half, the equaliser was scored. The Gould defence couldn’t get rid of the ball which landed at the feet of Will Tucker who hit hard and low into the bottom corner of the net.


The match had sprung to life and the tie could’ve gone either way, but it looked more likely that North Molton would add a second to their tally. Just a couple of minutes had lapsed from the equaliser when Joshua Stoneman headed goal bound from a corner, but Jenson Manning in goal for Mount Gould saved comfortably.


Mount Gould soon found themselves reduced to ten men following a sin bin, but the player disadvantage didn’t seem to bother the club and whilst a man light they almost found the back of the net on two occasions. Firstly, a shot from distance following a failed North Molton clearance before a goal mouth scramble which saw the ball somehow not cross the line.
As the sin bin period came to an end the Plymouth based club managed to take the lead with what turned out to be the winning goal following a free kick on the edge of the box. Chris Wright fired into the bottom left corner to the delight of his teammates with what turned out to be the goal that would put his side into the cup final.


There was still time for one more bit of drama in injury time at the end of the match as Mount Gould were once again reduced to ten men, this time following a straight red card. As North Molton looked to launch an attack down the right wing, Dane Hewings came flying across and took out the Stags player leaving the referee with no choice but to pull out the red card.
A real game of two halves and a spectacular season for Mount Gould who continue their 100% record in all competitions. Beer Albion awaits in the final at Barnstaple Town in just a few weeks in what should be a thrilling game.

stoke gabriel and torbay police reserves v ipplepen athletic scott richards devon football league

North and East Division Gets Underway while Lakeside Look to Extend Winning Start

Photo ©Al Macphee/MiraclePR

The A&S Interiors Devon Football League North and East Division kicks off today with four games taking place.

Topsham Town, who finished in third place last season, travel to Sportslighting Devon Premier Cup holders Beer Albion for their opening fixture. Beer Albion are playing their first game in the DFL while fellow new boys Fremington host the Robins of Budleigh Salterton.

Barnstaple Town Reserves and Appledore also make their DFL debuts and will face each other at Barnstaple. Newtown will be hoping for a better season this year; they are away at Thorverton, another newly promoted club.

Lakeside Athletic have hit the ground running this season with two wins out of two. The Lakers are at home to Bere Alston this afternoon. The sides finished joint fourth on points last season. The Windmill, newly promoted from the South Devon League will entertain DC Auto Repairs, up from the Plymouth and West, with both sides looking to bounce back from home defeats. Plymstock United target their first points of the season after two straight defeats. They travel to the Beehive as SGT Police get their league campaign underway. Ipplepen and Mount Gould go head to head at Moor Road, both sides playing their first games of 2022/23.

Race for the titles in Devon Football League

We are halfway through an intriguing season in the Scott Richards Solicitors Devon Football League North & East Division, and it could not be tighter at the top. 

Exwick Villa entered the Christmas break as league leaders, but only on goal difference from the University of Exeter, and the students do have a game in hand.  

Although they are eight points behind the top two, Braunton will start 2022 with a hope that an impeccable run could see the North Devon outfit enter the title race. 

The next chasing group are separated by just one point, with Alphington, Budleigh Salterton and the tight defence of Topsham Town all fighting hard for supremacy. Topsham do also have the advantage of games in hand.  

Feniton are seventh and have made a strong start to life at this level. It is then a scrap between the likes of Newtown, Liverton United, North Molton Sports Club and Exmouth Town Reserves. 

While Clyst Valley are five points adrift at the bottom, just converting some of the battling draws into wins could transform their season. 

The story in the South & West Division is not quite so tight but leaders Teignmouth will still have to maintain their excellent form to protect the current four-point lead over an impressive Mount Gould, who are unbeaten so far and have a game in hand. 

Lakeside Athletic and Plymstock United are only separated by goal difference and lead the chasing pack, with the mid-table section looking incredibly close. 

Bere Alston United, Plympton Athletic and Paignton Saints are the teams in the middle, but this does not tell the full story, as Bere Alston have a number of games in hand. 

The youngsters from Plymouth Argyle Development have fared well over the first half of the season and hold a four-point advantage over ninth-place Buckland Athletic Reserves.  

Local rivals Ipplepen Athletic and Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves occupy places 10 and 11, while the English Riviera duo of Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police Reserves and Watcombe Wanderers have both shown enough promise to pull away from the bottom places. 

stoke gabriel and torbay police reserves v ipplepen athletic scott richards devon football league

Proposed DFL Constitution 2021/22

Picture: Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police Reserves and Ipplepen Athletic make their DFL debuts in 2021/22. ©Al MacPhee/MiraclePR.com

The provisional DFL constitution for the 2021/22 season has been announced, as follows:

NORTH & EASTSOUTH & WEST
Alphington
Bere Alston Utd
Braunton
Buckland Ath Reserves
Budleigh Salterton
Ipplepen
Chudleigh Athletic
Kingstiegnton Athletic
Clyst Valley
Lakeside Athletic
Exeter University
Mount Gould
Exmouth Town Reserves
Newton Abbot Reserves
Exwick Villa
Paignton Saints
Feniton
Plymouth Argyle Development
Heavitree United
Plympton Athletic
Liverton United
Plymstock United
Newtown
Roselands
North Molton
Torbay Police
St Martins
Totnes & Dartington
Teignmouth
Watcombe Wanderers
Topsham Town
Windmill
totnes and dartington fc v bere alston united fc

Latest FA Guidance and Tournament Rules

Please find below the latest advice from the FA concerning the restart of football from 29th March

There is a lot of information to read, digest & implement measures.

The main points are – No Dressing Rooms to be opened, No Spectators & No Hospitality until after 12th April.

The League’s Min-Tournament will be run on the lines of the existing League & Cup Rules with 2 amendments.

 1.  Sanction has been granted to Teams using 5‘Rolling Subs’ from 5 nominated to the Referee before a game starts.

 1.  From Group Winners Rounds to Final Tie,  players (apart from an emergency Goalkeeper) must have played 50% of the Group Qualifying games

Finally, a reminder that no Player Registrations (Apart from emergency Goalkeeper) is allowed after 31st March 2021.

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FA Notification on New National COVID Restrictions

We note the UK Government’s announcement on Monday 4 January with regards to the new national COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown.

As a result, the impact on ‘non-elite’ football in England will include the suspension of fixtures and training across the following with immediate effect:

·         Steps three to six of the National League System

·         Tiers three to seven of the Women’s Football Pyramid

·         Regional NLS feeder leagues

·         Barclays FA WSL Academy League (unless under elite status)

·         FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs (unless under elite status)

·         All indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football, including under-18s (except organised outdoor football for disabled people, which is allowed to continue)

·         Vitality Women’s FA Cup (which is currently classified as ‘non-elite’ at this stage in the competition)

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the Government’s new national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and we implore everyone to follow these. 

Dialogue will continue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, leagues, competitions and County Football Associations and we will provide further updates for the 2020-21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup, Buildbase FA Vase and ‘non-elite’ football when relevant.

We would like to thank the football community once again for its hard work, resilience and understanding during such an incredibly challenging period for both the game and wider society

FA Staff