Saturday 3rd May (original news source Devon League web site)

PREMIER DIVISION : Saltash United secured the runners up position in the top flight this afternoon by beating Falmouth Town 2-1 at Kimberley Stadium. In a fiesty game the Ashes ended with 9 men after Gavin Coulton and Carl Pender were sent off and the visitors had 10 men left after Brinton Nute was dismissed. The Ashes will receive the Runners-Up Cup and medals at the conclusion of Wednesday nights home game with Plymouth Parkway who themselves are now confirmed as having secured the 3rd placed prize money.

Three sides took the opportunity to climb the table this afternoon with Torpoint Athletic up 2 places to 4th after winning 3-1 away at Buckland Athletic, St Blazey are up 1 place to 8th after they came out on top of a 7 goal thriller at bottom side Cullompton Rangers, the visitors eventually winning 4-3 at Speeds Meadow. Newton Abbot Spurs also climbed a place, to 12th, after drawing 1-1 away at Launceston.

The two finalists in Mondays Throgmorton Cup clash earnt moral boosting wins this afternoon with Tavistock beating Holsworthy 2-0 at Langsford Park and Bodmin Town snatching a late winner to secure a 1-0 result away at Elburton Villa.

DIVISION 1 EAST : The Runners-Up cup has still not been presented in the Eastern section as results ensured it has yet to decide its destination. Following Friday nights loss for Newton Abbot the Cup was taken to Axminster Town where Plymstock United were in action. However after a poor first half showing the visitors were a goal down after Sam Dibling scored and a man down after Gavin West was sent off. After the break the 10 men came back into the game and levelled through Mike Southgate but despite both sides having chances neither side scored again and it was a 1-1 draw. With that result known attention turned to Stoke Gabriel who would have secured the prize if they won away at Appledore but they were soundly beaten by a 0-6 margin at Marshford and are out of the running. This all means that Plymstock occupy the position but have finished their game but if Newton Abbot win their last game on Thursday night it will be the Coach Road side that lift the Cup and collect the 800 pounds prize money. 

The three other games today saw Ottery St Mary win 6-2 away at bottom side Buckfastleigh Rangers whilst 2 games ended in draws as Champions Budleigh Salterton drew 1-1 at home to the University of Exeter and at Simmons Park Okehampton Argyle drew 3-3 at home to Alphington. 

DIVISION 1 WEST : The one scheduled match today between Vospers Oak Villa and St Austell was called off this morning when the visitors informed the host club and the league that they could not raise a side. The league officers have decided that under rule 8.6 the match will be awarded to Vospers Oak Villa and St Austell will be deducted 3 points. The league table shows the result as a 0-0 draw as we cannot award goals but Vospers have been credited with 3 points rather than the 1 for a draw and St Austell have had their previous points tally reduced from 11 to 8. The league will be fining the club and ordering costs incurred by Vospers Oak Villa to be repaid but will not be stating the actual amounts publically.   

Friday 2nd May

DIVISION 1 EAST : Exmouth Town kept alive their hopes of promotion with an emphatic 3-0 win away at rivals Newton Abbot this evening. Town had the perfect start when Ben Shephard scored after just 9 minutes and 3 minutes later Danny Burwood made it 2-0. Newton Abbot came back into the game and the visitors had to defend their lead but with a minute left Matt Dawson added a 3rd on the break. The result means Newton Abbot must avoid defeat in their last game, next Thursday at home to Budleigh Salterton to win promotion to the Premier Division. As far as Runners-Up is concerned Plymstock United or Stoke Gabriel could grab that by winning their final games tomorow, if both manage wins Plymstock are likely to be Runners-Up as they have a superior gaol difference, if both fail to win Newton Abbot could come back into the equation.