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.