Salcombe Town 1st 1 vs 2 Newton Abbot Spurs 2nd

SDFL Division 1

Salcombe Town 1

Newton Spurs Reserves 2

Salcombe were knocked off the top of the table on Saturday when they suffered a disappointing home defeat to Newton Spurs.

With top scorers Ash Yeoman and Charlie Barnes both unavailable Luke Milton was moved from the back to partner the returning Guy Watson up front.

With a strong wind blowing rain across the pitch this was never going to be a day for good football and both sides found it difficult to cope with the horrendous conditions.

It was the weather that played its part in the first goal when Milton got on the end of a poor defensive header to open the scoring in the 20th minute, lifting the ball over the goalkeeper. James Weeks , in the Town goal, then kept them in it with a couple of good saves but could do nothing to prevent the equaliser half an hour in when he was beaten from the penalty spot after a foul on the Spurs pacy left winger. Just when it looked like the teams would go in level at half time Spurs grabbed the lead when an innocuous looking effort found its way into the net.

With conditions deteriorating further the second half became a war of attrition , Town had a couple of early chances with Milton shooting over and Watson unable to keep control of the ball when played through on goal. Salcombe had to reorganise on the hour mark when Ben Taylor had to leave the field with a nasty looking knee injury and with Jake Favis coming on Milton returned to his more familiar role at the back.

With the pitch cutting up badly passing football became impossible the better chances falling Spurs way and at the final whistle they had held on for a deserved three points.

This was a disappointing last game for Town manager Phil Greaves, before he returns to live in Yorkshire, everyone at the club would like to thank Phil for his hard work in driving the club forward and wish him well for the future.

This Saturday Salcombe are at home once again to Buckland Athletic 3rds with a 2.30 kick off at Malborough.