Peninsula drama for Torridgeside and Torrington

Bad weather was the winner across North Devon semi-pro clubs but there was some local action lower down the football pyramid, including a superb draw for Torridgeside in South Devon and an epic for Torrington.

In the South West Peninsula League, Torridgeside made arguably the toughest trip in the division to take on a Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police side looking to extend a nine-match winning run in the league.

In fact, the last time Stoke had failed to win a game was when they drew 1-1 at Torridgeside in mid-September, and the early stages gave evidence of an extremely competent and confident outfit, as Stoke controlled possession and created some decent chances.

The T-Siders had to weather a Stoke storm and they did it with superbly disciplined defending, and players throwing their bodies on the line when required.

Gradually, Torridgeside became a more potent attacking force and grabbed the lead early in the second period, when the impressive Tyler Evans-Loude converted from close range.

Stoke laid siege on the visiting goal but the T-Siders remained a serious threat on the break, twice going close to extending their lead. In the end, Finn Roberts, who normally spends his weekends representing Bideford, grabbed a terrific equaliser with a sweet strike into the top corner.

Torrington, meanwhile, hosted another title-chasing side in the form of Cullompton Rangers, and both sides contributed massively to an extraordinary game of football.

In the early stages, Cully raced into a 4-1 lead and it looked like a depressing day for the lowly Greens, who only had a Tom Davey goal to show for their efforts. A second from Jed Harper-Penman reduced the arrears before Torrington went 5-2 down.

The second half was an absolute thriller. Davey notched again and Will Tucker made it 4-5 but Torrington were just unable to find the leveller in a brilliant match.