Seaton Town impress

Seaton Town continued their impressive start to life in the top flight of the Devon and Exeter League with a 5-3 home win over Heavitree Social United.

It was not just the nap hand of goals that was impressive but the all-round performance of a Town side simply brimming with confidence. The Heavies took the lead but, straight from the re-start, a quartet of Town passes ended with Dan Norman applying the finish.

A Josh French penalty gave Town the lead and they doubled their advantage with a stunning strike from Brad Groves to take a 3-1 lead into the break.

Heavitree struck back early in the second half before a brace of Mark Hancock goals put Town back in charge.

The visitors got another back late on, but Town were not to be denied. Boss Josh Stunell said: “It was a richly-deserved win and, what is clear to me is that, at this level, any team is capable of beating another on the day. What we need to do now is concentrate on consistency of performance and, if we can keep players fit and carry on how we started, who’s to say where that might take us.”

Next up for Town is Saturday’s game at Warren View, Exmouth where they will tackle an Exmouth Amateurs side who sit rock bottom of the fledgling table. Town will have to do without Cameron Vere and Robbie Fellingham at Exmouth as both have been called up for county action but Alex Wheatley comes back after missing the Heavitree game.

Beer Albion boss Mark Ward was delighted with his side’s 3-1 home win over Hatherleigh Town.

Goals from John Cooper, Luke Bartlett and Jamie Trewick, sealed a well-deserved victory leaving Ward to say: “The first half display was as good as the Furzebrake faithful will have witnessed for many moons. We weren’t quite able to match the tempo after the break, but the visitors could have no argument about our win.”

Luke Bartlett was named Man of the Match and the Fishermen’s boss says that the team have one simple target this term: “We are simply looking to stay in the top flight and intend to stick with the local player thinking.

“We have a great atmosphere in the dressing room and want to keep it that way.”

On Saturday, Ward and his men travel to Thorverton who are the reigning Champions. As for the Fishermen’s chances in Mid Devon, Ward says: “If we can share the spoils there then that will be very satisfactory.” Andrew Foster misses the trip to Thorverton.

Feniton began their life in Division One in fine style with a 3-1 win at Sidbury United thanks to goals from Jamie Easterbrook, Charlie Sellick and Paul Dowling.

Boss Mark Kingdon said: “It was a cracking game against very decent opponents. They (Sidbury) looked to play football and that helped us. We had some good individual and collective performances. It’s the ideal start to our league campaign.”

Exeter-based Sam Geake, who last year just played Sunday League football, made an impressive debut on the left flank. This weekend the Blues entertain Halwill and there’s a headache approaching for Kingdon in terms of selection with a full, fit squad and the addition of David Court and Richard Hudson.

Honiton Town were beaten by early season Division One pace setters East Budleigh, who left Mountbatten Park with a 4-1 win. Tim Genders scored the Town consolation and, next up for them, is Saturday’s short trip to Tipton St John.

Colyton paid a heavy price for a couple of early missed gilt- edged chances as they tumbled to a 2-1 defeat at home to Uplowman.

The visitors notched on the half hour before Colyton’s vociferous appeals for a penalty, when Marc Potter was shoved in the area, fell on deaf ears. Callum Somers struck a superb equaliser – the teenager capping a great individual performance with this super strike – but it was not sufficient to earn his side anything for their efforts as the visitors struck a late winner.

Disappointing times at Colyton then, with the team still searching for a first win of the new campaign. One bright spot on Saturday was the wearing of new warm-up tops supplied by Pulsar - a Malvern-based company that manufactures and supplies level control and flow equipment for liquids and solids.

On Saturday Colyton head to Clyst Valley looking for that elusive first Division Two victory.

Offwell rangers suffered late, late heartache at Winkleigh where the home side struck deep into added time to seal a 4-3 win.

Lewis Couch, with a superb free kick and a Jamie Doidge goal gave Rangers the perfect start but the hosts were back in the game just before the break and levelled things up within three minutes of the re-start!

The home side then took the lead from a hotly-disputed penalty but, with a minute to go, Couch scored his second, this time from the penalty spot, to seemingly give Rangers a deserved share of the spoils. However, as Rangers then went in search of a winner they were caught on the break and, deep into added time, Winkleigh grabbed the winner.

Ranger’s boss Nick Ogden said: “We must learn from our mistakes and pick ourselves up. I don’t think we got the rub of the green and the penalty award was a farce, Ryan made probably the best tackle of the match and got punished for it, but it wasn’t the ref that stopped us building on the great start we had, that was totally down to us.

“That’s only our second defeat in our last 24 games and it hurts, I know the players feel it too and will want to put it right next week away to Pinhoe, who are flying at the moment but I know my lads and they will improve on this effort at Winkleigh.”

Keeper Matt Long and striker Jamie Doidge both picked up knocks at Winkleigh and are doubtful for Saturday’s trip into Exeter.

Upottery picked up a very useful point in a 1-1 draw with a very efficient Topsham Town Reserves side.

What made the villagers’ point all the more impressive is that they came from behind to share the spoils. A 25-yard blast from Bruce Leaman just after the hour saw an end to the afternoon’s goals, although Keith Lane was inches away from making it an even better afternoon for Upottery when his late effort rattled an upright.

The villagers’ back line of Dave Sawyer, Gary Moore, Dave Claire and Mark Tucker, were outstanding throughout.

Boss Dan Prettejohn said: “I think a draw was a fair result as both sides put a lot into the contest.” Next up for Prettejohn and his men is Saturday’s trip to Dawlish United.

Awliscombe got the better of visiting Cheriton Fitzpaine, beating the Mid Devon men 2-1. This coming Saturday the Awls travel to Culm United.

Joe Berry was the star of the show as Axmouth United put visiting Silverton to the sword, beating the Mid Devon men 7-2.

Berry bagged all four of his goals in a stunning first half display by the hosts and, with the impressive Jake Dack also scoring, United were able to go into the break with a nap hand advantage!

The visitors rallied in the second half and struck twice in the opening 15 minutes. That was as good as it got for them though as United put a polished finish on proceedings with further goals from Christian Burridge, with a brace, and a stunning strike by Dack from just outside the area.

Jamie Hughes had a fine game in midfield but it was Dack who earned the Man of the Match award, just pipping four goal star Berry.