North Devon League round-up – Saturday, January 4

MORWENSTOW won a seven-goal classic at Shebbear United on a cold and freezing afternoon to make it eight league games unbeaten and their sixth win on the bounce in the Senior Division.

Despite the impressive form, the visitors couldn’t have had a worse start to their first game of 2025 as they found themselves 1-0 down in the opening quarter of an hour after Shebbear were given a penalty, which was scored by Christopher Wildern.

The home team soon added to their lead to make it 2-0, Ben Brace gifted a tap in after a great save from Morwenstow’s keeper Sam Sutcliffe wasn’t cleared.

Not long after the restart Morwenstow were given a penalty and Jake Gilbert dispatched with ease. Despite the goal, another Shebbear struck again before half-time making it 3-1, Ryan Down from the edge of the box.

It looked to stay that way until the final 12 minutes of the game, when Gilbert latched on to a low driven corner to bring it back to 3-2.

With the momentum now with the visitors, it wasn’t long before they equalised as Harry Savage capitalised on a mistake from the keeper, tapping the ball in on the goal line.

As the clock reached the 90-minute mark, it was substitute Ben Pengilly who was saviour. Running onto a through ball he managed to put his shot towards the near post and nestled into the net, giving the Greens all three points.

The result leaves them two points behind third-placed Sheb who have played two games more.

Elsewhere, Holsworthy Reserves were beaten 2-1 at Landkey Town in the Premier despite striker Ben Sharpe netting, while in Intermediate One, the four Post area sides in the division – Bradworthy, Holsworthy Thirds, Morwenstow Reserves and Putford – were all denied by the weather.