THREE South Devon sides entered the FA Vase over the weekend and all three emerged victorious.

Buckland Athletic of the Western League and SW Peninsula League pair Bovey Tracey AFC and Teignmouth AFC booked their respective spots in the next round with wins across the board.

Starting with the Bucks and there was just one goal in their trip to Plymouth. They took on Elburton Villa at a warm Haye Road and a Jared Lewington finish from close range proved the difference.

On social media after the game, 1st XI boss Matt Cusack wrote: “A tough game for our [team] in the FA Vase. Credit to our lads for finding a way to win.

“Thought we played better last week and got nothing. Lovely to see some old faces and Elburton Villa should certainly be pushing for promotion.”

Teignmouth AFC also had to score just once to advance in the competition thanks to the clean sheet they kept at the other end of the field.

At the time of writing, Torrington AFC are 3-0 in the league and Teigns are 0-3 so form really did go out the window, in favour of Liam Jones’ side.

Finally, to Bovey Tracey AFC, who had to come from behind to win south of the border.

St Austell was their destination and the Cornish side, who are playing at the higher level of the Western League, went into the break one goal to the good.

Stu Bowker converted from the penalty spot in the early stages of the second half though and then Ollie Aplin added a second and third in a 3-1 win for the Moorlanders.

Bovey offered detailed updates on social media, writing this for Aplin’s second: “Aplin with an unbelievable diving header but what an assist from Landricombe!

“Bovey break and Landricombe holds off two defenders, driving wide before delivering a scintillating cross into the box, where Aplin flies straight into its path and nods it beyond the ‘keeper.”

There was this delight for current Bovey boss Ben Gerring and also for a former manager of theirs, Matt Hayden, with Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police.

The Railway Men followed up a strong league start with a convincing Vase victory away at St. Day.

Tom Burt, who followed Hayden from Mill Marsh Park to Broadley Lane, opened the scoring early on and then set up Ben Aldous, all within the first 10 minutes.

Aldous would go on to complete his hat-trick in the second half but not before Tom Dunlop headed home in this 5-0 romp.

Looking ahead to the next round now and taking place on September 20, all three local sides will be in the field, as will Newton Abbot Spurs.

Spurs visit Bridgwater United, Bovey go to Torpoint Athletic, Teignmouth host Ivybridge Town at Coombe Valley and Buckland have been drawn at home against Ilfracombe Town.

From a more short-term point of view, the quartet all return to league football this weekend. Spurs and Buckland follow up their midweek league outings away at Bishops Lydeard and at Homers Heath against Bradford Town respectively.

Bovey take on one of the other unbeaten sides (in the league) in the form of Torrington and last but by no means least, Teignmouth host Axminster Town.

Photography by Alan Craig.