Tag: north molton

thirst fitness dfl cup final 2024 beer albion v north molton

List of Pre-season Friendlies: Enjoy Some Summer Football

PRODUCTIVE SEASON: Beer Albion proved to be the team to beat in the cup competitions – in fact, nobody could manage it! Albion also finished a respectable third in the league. ©Danni Hide Photography

Have the Euros inspired you to take in some pre-season football around Devon? Or are you interested in seeing who might be turning out for your team – or your rivals – in 24/25? We will be updating the list below as clubs confirm their pre-season games to us, so make sure you keep coming back!

Here are the confirmed pre-season fixtures so far (as of 24th June).

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!

*DFL teams are in bold type

thirst fitness devon football league cup final 2024 beer albion v north molton

Thirst Fitness Devon League Cup Final: Beer Albion 2 – 0 North Molton SC

Match report by Tom Besford. Photo ©Danni Hide Photography

The cup final is always the highlight of the season and after what had been a long and wet season, this showpiece didn’t let us down with a brilliantly contested final once again. Beer Albion came into this season’s final as the holders of the cup after lifting the silverware twelve months prior and they would go on to reclaim the trophy following two goals at the beginning of the second half.

It had been a long week for both clubs leading up to this match following dramatic semi-finals during the week. For Beer Albion, their semi-final on the Tuesday had a lengthy delay whilst we had to wait for the Devon Air Ambulance meaning a late night was had by all. For North Molton SC on the Wednesday, they had to come from two goals behind on two occasions before a late winner secured their spot in the final.

Beer Albion had the better of the early chances in this match and after just a couple of minutes, a quick counter attack ended with the ball reaching Brooklyn Wilkins who raced into the box and could only watch as his shot was blocked and deflected over.

Jacob Rowe was next to test the North Molton SC goalkeeper as he tried his luck from distance but Adam Chamberlain was equal to the effort to tip over the bar. Down the other end of the pitch and it was North Molton this time trying their luck from distance as Callum Hutchings saw his effort blocked and out for a corner.

James Giffard came close for North Molton from the edge of the box as he fired narrowly over before Beer had a golden opportunity to open the scoring as a Giles Basson shot from the corner of the box was saved well down low by Chamberlain.

The first half ended goalless with neither team really able to break down their opponents. With both league matches between these two sides ending in draws this season, it felt like this could be a case of déjà vu.

Beer Albion came out the second half hungry to get in front and they were rewarded after just three minutes of the second half as Aaron Daniels crossed the ball from the right and found Taylor Rooke at the far post who slid the ball into the back of the net. North Molton SC had to find a way back into this match but things went from bad to worse for them as just two minutes later the lead was doubled as Beer had one hand on the trophy. Giles Basson received the ball on the edge of the box and fired into the bottom corner.

North Molton suddenly had a hard job in front of them to get back into this game and it was made even harder following the second goal as goalkeeper Adam Chamberlain went off injured meaning they had to play the remainder of the match with defender Josh Phillips in goal.

Matt Berry saw his effort tipped over the bar from the edge of the box as Beer went in search for a third goal and the East Devon side tried to take advantage of the lack of a goalkeeper for North Molton as they continued to put the pressure on the Stags defence.

Liam Cox found himself released one on one with the rookie goalkeeper and decided to try and beat him down low but Phillips had other ideas as he saved well with his feet to keep his side in with a slim chance of getting back into the game.

The early goals at the beginning of the second half and the injury to the goalkeeper virtually ended this match as a competition and the only chance North Molton had of troubling the score in the second half came with just minutes left on the clock, Sam Phillips managed to turn on the edge of the box and fired wide of the target.

Another cup victory for Beer Albion who are enjoying life in the Devon Football League and pick up their third piece of silverware in two seasons.

Beer Albion team: Elliot Driver, Matt Berry, Charlie Ledger, George Richards, Tony Pinder, Jacob Rowe, Aaron Daniels, Brooklyn Wilkins, Taylor Rooke, Giles Basson.

Subs: Joe Adkin, Cody Bowditch, Charley Skilton, Liam Cox, Josh French

North Molton SC team: Adam Chamberlain, Jack Moses, Josh Phillips, George Folland, Ian Cockwill, Adam Jerrett, Callum Hutchings, Josh Wren, Will Tucker, James Giffard, Joshua Stoneman

Subs: Michael Hatcher, Joe Southcott, Harry Knill, Sam Phillips, Daniel Anjos

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.