Honiton match abandoned 'in running' due to downpour

The weather in November has certainly been unkind to the local footballers with many seeing very little action.

In the Devon and Exeter League, which has 10 Divisions, each with 14 teams, it is possible for a single match day to serve up 70 fixtures but, heading in to the final weekend of the month, just 44 games have been completed across the entire league in the first three weekends of November!

Feniton were one of the few local sides to get any action on Saturday when their Acland Park pitch held up well in the conditions but, sadly for Blues' followers, the home side slipped to another defeat, their seventh in 10 Premier division games and they remain without a home victory since late August. In testing conditions, the visitors, Clyst Valley, led 2-0 before a neat finish from Luke Gallen halved the deficit but two late goals ended any hopes of the Blues taking anything from the game.

On Saturday the Blues meet the same opposition in the return game at Clyst Valley.

Seaton Town took time out of their impressive start to the Division One campaign to make further progress in the East Devon Senior Cup with a 4-3 win over visiting Morchard Bishop.

Impressive teenager Cameron Vere fired Town ahead from a narrow angle but the visitors were level from a corner before Town regained the lead with one of the oddest goals seen at Colyford Road for some time!

Robbie Fellingham struck the fiercest of free-kicks from fully 35 yards and, when the ball cannoned back off the upright, it struck Josh French on the head and flew into the net.

Early in the second half the Mid Devon side were so close to levelling for a second time, but were denied by a stunning goal-line clearance from the game's star player, Town centre back Mark Perham.

That proved to be a let-off as, shortly afterwards, the visitors equalised and then, with 25 minutes remaining, they took a 3-2 lead. Town pressed, threw on all three subs in the form of Alphonse, Hayes and Cross and were rewarded for their endeavour with an equaliser from full-back Ollie Morgan to take the game into an extra half-hour. With ten minutes remaining French seemed to be hauled down in the area but the referee waved away the appeals but, undeterred, Town stayed on the front foot and Ritchie Durrant netted a 115th minute winner.

On Saturday Town face the biggest challenge yet to their 100 per cent start to the League season when they host the only side to sit above them in the table, Heavitree Social United Reserves.

Beer were one of umpteen sides' forced to sit out another soggy Saturday when their game at Culm United fell to a waterlogged Magelake ground. This weekend they have every chance of playing, whatever the weather, when they entertain Morchard Bishop at element-proof Furzebrake!

Honiton Town's Division Two visit to Dawlish Town was abandoned after 35 minutes by the referee, as the pitch became unplayable.

Town boss was quick to accept that the South Devon pitch was playable at kick-off but, incessant rain during the contest, made the underfoot conditions very difficult and the referee was left with no other alternative.

In the play that was completed, the home side hit an upright and Town keeper Ben Kayes made one outstanding save whilst, at the other end, Chaz Lane was bundled over in the box but the match official quashed vociferous claims for a penalty.

Town boss Ayres said: "The game was a potential banana skin for us as the conditions evened things up. Had the pitch been dry, I am certain we would have taken the three points and I will be confident when we return for the game later in the campaign when, hopefully, the conditions will be more suited to the type of football we like to play."

Next up for Town is a home game against Exmouth Amateurs Reserves who have only played one away game so far - that an 8-0 defeat at Tipton St John whilst Town sport an unbeaten Division Two record so far this term.

Colyton's Bill Slee cup meeting with Witheridge on Saturday met a watery end. They also dropped one spot in the Division Three table owing to the Marines playing, and winning, to leap frog them into third place.

Offwell Rangers slipped further behind Countess Wear Dynamos when the Exeter side were the only team to play a Division Four game. This Saturday, Rangers seek a fourth successive league win when they host Newtown.

Seaton Town Reserves will be looking to become only the second side this term to win at table topping Countess Wear. Town's second string will also be looking to avoid a third straight Division Four defeat.

In Division Five Feniton Reserves travel to face a Colaton Raleigh side currently unbeaten at home this season. The Blues' second string sit second bottom of the table whilst their hosts have only one side above them, but Feniton can travel feeling confident about scoring for they have only once this term failed to find the back of the opposition net!

In Division Six, the month of November has seen precious little action and just four games have been played! Awliscombe are unbeaten to date having got through five games, only one of which has been away. The Awls host mid table Alphington on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the Division, Axmouth United meet the side sitting immediately above them, UAU Exeter whilst Beer Albion Reserves, one of the few sides to get action last weekend when they went down 4-2 at home to Ottery St Mary's second string, in the last eight of the Football Express Cup, are without a league game.

In Division Seven, the 'games played' count for November is just three! This coming weekend, Honiton Town Reserves, who sit just three points adrift of two sides sharing second spot in the table, travel to Okehampton Argyle who are in the bottom three.

In the basement Division local sides occupy similar records and sit mid-table. This weekend Feniton 3rds entertain Lapford Reserves at Acland Park whilst Seaton Town 3rds also have home advantage for the visit of Winkleigh Reserves. Offwell Rangers Reserves travel, but not very far, as they go to Tipton St John for an East Devon derby.