WEDNESDAY MAY 14

An elated Exeter University are the Devon & Exeter League Premier League champions. The college, needing just a draw, beat St Martins 3-0 in a fiercely fought match at Minster Park on wednesday night. Both teams played at full speed and chances were created at either end, but the University had the edge in finishing. Dave Wiltshire opened their account in the first half, and then Tom Arnold made it 2-0 after the college had survived a good spell by the Saints. A late goal from Chris Thorpe sealed the title for the University and for skipper George Cowell, my fellow "blades" supporter, who will not be in charge next season as he is in his final year, this was the icing on the cake. St Martins manager Mike Nosworthy was clearly disappointed but said he was proud of the way his side competed. The consolation for Saints is the Harry Wood trophy for coming second.

MONDAY MAY 12

Minster Park is expected to be packed tonight (Wed May 14) for the Premier title showdown between St Martins and Exeter University, and it could not be closer. Both teams now have 53 points but the college edged above St Martins with a better goal difference to go top on monday night after a resounding 6-0 win at home to Topsham Town, while Saints were being held 1-1 at home by Exeter Civil Service. The University victory came against a Topsham side which included three 16 year olds, and they were unable to defend on the huge pitch against a lethal college attack. Tom Arnold with a hat-trick, Ben Chow, Chris Hurst and and one other goal completed the students tally.

St Martins leading scorer Darren Bingham who had come on as substitute, missed a penalty just three minutes from time against visiting Civil Service. The Foxhayes club had taken the lead on the hour with a quality Neil Fairchild free kick, but Bingham then struck the equaliser and had the chance to win it from the penalty spot. However Civil keeper Robbie Raddon made a brilliant stop to deny Bingham. Both teams then had a man sent off as the tension mounted, Lee Douglas for Civil and Lee Parker for Saints, but it ended all square and everything now depends on tonights finale, the students will be champions if they avoid defeat.

Bickleigh, who finish sixth, denied Hatherleigh Town the chance to grab fourth place when they beat the North Devon side 3-0. Ben White, Sam Hunt and Luke Passmore scored for Bickleigh and the win takes them above Hatherleigh.

SATURDAY MAY 10

The extraordinary battle for the Premier division title looks like going down to the wire after another sensational twist at Sidmouth Town where leaders St Martins got out of jail to draw 3-3. The vikings, needing a victory to avoid having to apply for re-election to Premier were within five minutes of glory when St Martins salvaged the point which might yet earn them the Premier crown. The Minster Park side kicked off at Manstone Road a point better off than rivals Exeter Civil Service and Exeter University, neither of whom were in action, and it augured well for Saints when they took the lead through Matt Anderson. However Sidmouth hit back from Dave Green and Simon Hudson to lead 2-1 and a shock looked on the cards. St Martins drew level when Ross Parker scored but they had substitute Steve Bassett sent off and then gifted Sidmouth a third goal from Andy Thompson. Top scorer Darren Bingham then came up with St Martins equaliser in the 85th minute, and that means the title will probably be sorted on wednesday night when Saints are at home to second place University where winner takes all. However St Martins could lose top spot if they are beaten by third place Exeter Civil Service tonight at Minster Park but if that happens the Foxhayes team could still be runners up. Gallant Sidmouth end the season third from last and must now hope the League are sympathetic when they review their application to stay up.
* If Civil are to win the Premier title, they would need to beat St Martins tonight by a hatful of goals, Topsham to beat the University, and for Saints and the students to draw on wednesday.

The University are back in action tonight at home to Topsham Town and a win for the college would mean everything will come down to wednesday night. Topsham preserved their Premier staus with a 0-0 draw at Feniton where they hit the woodwork four times, yet they could so easily have lost. The tops had the better of the game, but could not get the break they needed.

Hatherleigh Town won 3-0 at home to Heavitree Harriers which means they will snaffle fourth place if they beat Bickleigh tonight. Goals from Simon James, Sam Appleby and Stephen Cleave beat the Harriers who had to field a weakened team for their final match as many of their regular side were unavailable.

TEAM OF THE DAY - SIDMOUTH TOWN

MIDWEEK

MAY 7

Meanwhile the Premier title race is still at boiling point after Exeter University closed the gap on leaders St Martins with a 6-2 win against Feniton. Four goals from Tom Arnold and two for Mike Giorgiou did the business for the College and they are just a point behind Saints who they face next week, but having played one game more. John Phillips and Sean Devine scored for Feniton.

Two late goals including a penalty from substitute Neil Fairchild earned Exeter Civil Service a fiery 3-2 win at Beer Albion. The fishermen had taken the lead twice through Simon Smith and Martyn Hancock, but Sean Densham kept Civil in the hunt with a penalty after a bizarre incident, and then came Fairchild's winning double.

An elated Sidmouth Town won 2-0 against Wellington Town to keep their hopes of survival alive. Ben Cole and Chris Duchesnski scored for the vikings, and they are now just a point behind Topsham who slipped to a 3-0 defeat at home to Hatherleigh Town, although the tops still have a match in hand. Simon James, Gareth Osman and Eddie Hillier scored for Hatherleigh who could finish 4th if they win their last two matches. Sidmouth's last game is against St Martins on saturday, while Topsham visit Feniton.

MAY 5

30 years after their last success in the competition, Clyst Valley won the East Devon Senior cup beating St Martins 2-1 in the final at Topsham. First half goals from Barcelona supporter and colleague Javier Martin and then Matt Thompson, put Clyst in control, but the Premier leaders managed to get back in the game before half-time with a Matt Anderson goal. In the second half St Martins put pressure on the Clyst defence, but it stood firm with skipper Simon Coombes marshalling his troops to great effect. In midfield Jeff Saunders had a terrific game for Clyst and they held out to capture the trophy for the third time in their history. Clyst chairman Reg Vicary who was a playing member when they last won the cup in 1978 was delighted with the result as was manager Jeff Weekes who felt the whole team earned their success. St Martins still wait for their first ever Senior cup triumph, but manager Mike Nosworthy was still very pleased with his team, who must now concentrate their efforts on winning the league for the first time. Lee Parker was Nozzer's pick as man of the match.

SATURDAY MAY 3

Exeter University kept the Premier title race at boiling point after their exhilarating 5-3 victory at Heavitree Harriers. The college recovered from going two down to win the day and are up to second place for the first time this season. Goals from Ben Chow 2, Chris Thorpe, Luke Davis and Andy Blundell delivered for the University who host Feniton on wednesday and could move within a point of leaders St Martins. However the college do not play their last two games until next week, one of which is against the Saints. Liam McMahon 2 and Adam Downey were the Harriers scorers.

St Martins remain title favourites and widened the gap to four points with a 2-1 win against Sidmouth Town, but it was far from convincing. The Saints were awarded an early penalty which even they felt was generous, Greg Hooper converted, but they did not add to that until the second half when Steve Bassett scored. The vikings replied with a brilliant goal from Dave Green and although they did not create too many chances had the Minster Park team looking edgy until the final whistle. The Saints may have had one eye on today's East Devon Senior cup final at Topsham (2.30) against Clyst Valley, but do not play again until saturday when they meet Sidmouth again in the first of three matches in five days. By then Sidmouth could be getting their application to reapply for Premier status ready if they lose against Wellington tomorrow night.

The Valley meanwhile rounded up their season with a 2-1 win against Wellington Town. Steve Millington with a bullit header and Toby Tagg with a superb overhead kick, and was the eventual winner, scored for Clyst. Defeat means Wellington drop to fifth and finish their season at Sidmouth on wednesday where if they win it could lift them to fourth.

Hatherleigh Town beat Feniton 1-0 with an 80th minute penalty from Simon James. It was a cruel end for a much weakened Feniton although both teams had players missing because of cricket.

A last minute winner from Liam Raybould earned Bickleigh a 3-2 win against Beer Albion. The match played at Tiverton Towns Ladysmead stadium produced a real thriller and Beer felt very unlucky not to have drawn. Stuart Anderson with a penalty and Jordan Copp twice put Bickleigh in front, but Beer came back through Martin Adkin and Martyn Hancock and looked set for a point until Raybould rifled home an unstoppable free kick

TEAM OF THE DAY - EXETER UNIVERSITY