Tears for Torridgeside in Cup epic

Cruel, unlucky, crushing…Torridgeside were denied a place in the Peninsula League Cup semi-final after a dramatic late finale at Penzance from the West Division.

It was one of the few games across the South West to survive the deluge toward the end of last week and the T-Siders knew it would be a tough test, as Penzance had progressed to this stage by halting the long unbeaten run of Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police.

On a difficult but playable surface, both sides emerged from a tentative opening to start creating chances, Aiden Craker digging out two top saves to thwart the Cornishmen.

It was the perfect platform for Torridgeside to grab the lead midway through the second period, Kyle Paine finishing off an excellent move to beat home goalkeeper Mikey Flores. Sloppy Penzance defending then presented George Shapland with the opening to double the lead with a back-post finish.

The T-Siders reached the final minute with a two-goal lead but an own goal gave Penzance hope, and the hosts pounced again moments later to equalise with a neat finish from Jacob Trudgeon.

Penzance were bouncing and, understandably, the T-Siders were in a bewildered state. After being on the brink of victory, the game was level, and the home side still had enough in the tank for a dramatic curling winner from Trudgeon.

Credit to Penzance for their rousing finish to the game but it was incredibly harsh on Torridgeside, who had fought so valiantly for 90 minutes.

The T-Siders will have to pick themselves up for the league visit from Honiton Town on Saturday and the remaining ambition from the final eight games of the season will be to achieve a top-half ambition.

The challenge for Torrington is a tad more difficult, as they need wins to climb out of the bottom two. This weekend is supposed to be away fixture at Teignmouth but due to a landslide at the Teign’s home ground, Torrington will be the hosts for this game.

It remains a difficult fight for survival for Devon clubs in the Southern League Premier Division. Tiverton Town gave their hopes a major boost with a battling 1-0 win at Poole Town, former Torquay United winger Niall Thompson notching the only goal on just four minutes.

Plymouth Parkway have shown a lot of improvement in recent weeks but they are still only three points clear of Poole, who occupy the fourth relegation place. Tom Dean had given Parkway the lead on Saturday but another former Gull in the shape of young striker Olaf Koszela scored twice to give Dorchester Town a 2-1 success at Bolitho Park.

Parkway will need a response at home to mid-table Gosport Borough this weekend, while Tivvy have a testing trip to promotion-chasing Walton & Hersham.

Bideford’s game at Cribbs was one of many that succumbed to the weather in Division One South but Exmouth Town did retain their fairly forlorn hope of catching runaway leaders Yate Town, as the East Devon club cruised to a 3-0 win over Bashley.

Willand Rovers v Shaftesbury was also postponed, while Tavistock were held to a 0-0 draw at home to Mousehole, a result that leaves Tavvy four points from safety. Willand and Bideford have more of a cushion above the bottom four. Willand welcome Tavvy on Saturday in a huge Devon derby.

Only four games were played in the Western League, and none involving Devon clubs, but the big news actually came a few days earlier, when the worrying form of Barnstaple Town continued with a 0-3 loss at home to Brixham, James Moxon, Kieran Parkin and Aaron Wellington the trio on target for the Fishermen.

It is now four straight defeats for Barum, a spell in which they have conceded 12 and scored zero. There has been unrest behind the scenes for some time and Barnstaple Town supporters have now set up a GoFundMe page to buy out chairman Bill Wilson.

Established by the club’s head of media, Steve Screech, the appeal is to raise £20k as part of an agreement with Wilson, who has pledged to release his shares in the club and write off the £300k loan to Barum. Find out more here.