Hele are latest Premier scalp for Staverton

FRUSTRATED Hele Rovers boss Jeff Bidder has revealed how he would have considered quitting the Herald Cup holders had Neil Thomas not scored a late extra-time leveller against Division One visitors Staverton & Landscove.

Rovers eventually became Mark Morris' charges third Premier scalp in the competition, going down 3-1 on penalties after a 2-2 draw to miss out on a semi-final berth – but it was the referee's decision to award his opponents a spot-kick in the 117th minute, which Luke Brown converted to put Staverton 2-1 up, that infuriated Bidder.

"The ref said Danny Easton had tripped their player but, at most, it was obstruction – you could even tell by the reaction of the Staverton players that it was never a penalty," blasted the Hele manager.

"If it wasn't for our equaliser, I would have chucked it in because the standard of refereeing is poor.

"This isn't sour grapes from me, though – good luck to Staverton. When it gets to a penalty shootout, it's a lottery anyway."

Stuart Palmer had given the visitors the lead during the first period of normal time after capitalising on a mistake by Hele goalkeeper Dean Swift, but Spencer Cole restored parity in the second half, before the extra-time drama followed.

Meanwhile, Kingskerswell & Chelston's stand-in boss Paul Edwards sees no reason why his side can't go on to lift the Herald Cup after Adam Findon snatched a late winner against Galmpton Gents Reserves to hand Kerswell a quarter-final place.

"We'll play Brixham United on Saturday and we haven't lost many games this season so we're quite confident we can beat them – and we're optimistic we can go all the way in the competition," said Edwards, who is currently covering for manager Bruce Duff.

Both sides will be relieved to have finally got the tie out of the way after the original game was abandoned at 4-4 due to bad light, and two further attempts to contest the fixture fell foul of the weather.

In the Fred Hewings Cup, Galmpton Gents 3rds required a penalty shootout to see off Division Two strugglers Brixham United Reserves.

And if it wasn't for Stuart Smith's leveller with just two minutes to go in normal time, Brixham would have been celebrating a place in the last four after Justin Dodgeson and Jack Pollard had put them in control following Gary Hodge's first-half opener for Division One Galmpton.

Neither team could find a winner during the added 30 minutes of play, and it was Smith who scored the decisive spot-kick after keeper Russel Hutchings saved three of Brixham's five penalties.

● BRIXHAM Villa survived an onslaught from Devon & Exeter League hosts Bickleigh to make it through to the quarter-final stage of the Devon Premier Cup.

Villa stormed into a 3-0 lead within the opening 20 minutes of the tie thanks to Neil Burnell's opener and an Adam Dyson double.

And although Bickleigh hit back with two goals, the SDL Premier side held on to earn the right to face South West Peninsula League Division One (East) high-flyers Bovey Tracey in the last eight.

There was no such luck for Chudleigh Athletic as they went down 2-1 in their Devon Senior Cup clash against Plymouth & West Devon Combination visitors United Services. Andy Taylor was on target for Chudleigh.

Newton Spurs 3rds are through to the area semi-finals of the Devon Intermediate Cup after beating fellow Division Three side Foxhole United 4-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Spurs will play Babbacombe Corries in the last four.

● UPTON Athletic remain eight points clear at the top of the Premier Division after second-half strikes from Darren Bastow and Lee Chamberlain helped them overcome a depleted Totnes & Dartington Reserves side 2-0 at Cricketfield Road.

Tots – who had a number of players missing due to a combination of work commitments and those attending team-mate Sam Blake's wedding – had a glorious opportunity to take the lead themselves in the 20th minute when Troy Abraham hit the post with the goal at his mercy after rounding the Upton keeper.

Meanwhile, Simon Hannaford grabbed a brace as second-placed East Allington clinched a narrow 3-2 victory over struggling Newton Spurs Reserves. Jon Davis was also on target for Allington.

One point further behind are Brixham United after Jay Morgan bagged a double to see off Kingsteignton Athletic, while Chagford are up to sixth following a 4-0 thrashing of basement boys Riviera Spurs.

Warwick Botham (2), Oscar Emanuel and Chris Woof inflicted the misery on Spurs.