Bovey Tracey close in on South-West Peninsula League title

It was a packed Easter weekend in the Devon Football League Premier East, with fixtures across Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday producing a flurry of goals, dramatic scorelines and significant movement at both ends of the table.

On Easter Monday, Newton Abbot Spurs capped a fine holiday period with a second consecutive 3-1 victory, this time away at Ilfracombe Town. Goals from Callum Noyce, Harry Page and a Toby Pullman penalty secured the win, with Stan Jenkins on target for the hosts.

Ilminster Town climbed into ninth place after a narrow 1-0 win away at Teignmouth, thanks to a decisive strike from Ed Butcher.

Elsewhere, Bishops Lydeard recorded only their sixth win of the season—and arguably their most impressive—beating fifth-placed Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police 2-0, with goals from Ed Stephens and Ethan Jones.

Saturday belonged emphatically to leaders Bovey Tracey A.F.C., who produced a stunning 9-1 away victory over Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police.

The Moorlanders, already coming off an 8-1 midweek win, were in relentless form as they moved to within touching distance of the title. Striker Levi Landricombe stole the headlines with five goals, while further strikes came from Ollie Aplin, Lewis Perring, Callum Leech and Josh Brimming.

The result means Bovey now need just seven more points from their remaining fixtures to secure the championship, with six games still to play.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Ilfracombe Town returned to winning ways with a 4-0 victory away at Okehampton Argyle, lifting them back up to seventh place. Goals came from Stan Jenkins, Sam Townsend, Riley Malin and Reuben Jones.

Good Friday’s action saw second-placed Bridport A.F.C. held to a 3-3 draw by Ilminster Town, preventing them from moving back to the top of the table.

Ilminster’s Jordan Lovibond, Jack Steer and Josh Phillips were all on the scoresheet, while Bridport responded through Will Gape, Sam Fisher and Soloman Ayunga.

The draw left Bovey Tracey edging ever closer to the title, needing ten points from seven games at that stage.

Elsewhere, Cullompton Rangers kept their hopes of a top-two finish alive with a 5-0 win away at Crediton United, including a hat-trick from Josh Coles.

Newton Abbot Spurs also impressed with a 3-1 win over Teignmouth, with Kai Swann, Tate Breslan-Aggrey and Toby Pullman on target.

In the day’s derby, Torrington A.F.C. were beaten 2-0 at home by local rivals Torridgeside A.F.C., with Rory Paine scoring both goals.

Further afield, Middlezoy Rovers claimed a 3-1 win at Bishops Lydeard thanks to a hat-trick from Finn Hansford, while Honiton Town came from behind to beat Axminster Town 2-1, with Aaron Pearce and Jordan Harris overturning Harrison Larcombe’s opener.