United advance in Cup after battle of Brixham
Adam Hawthorne and Dan Rankin both struck in the final 20 minutes which sealed a 2-1 win for Mike Coysh's side in one of only four second round ties to beat the torrential rain.
Ben Adams got one back for Villa in the final minute, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.
Victorious manager Coysh was delighted with the way his side performed in such testing conditions, and said: "The pitch cut up in the wind and rain, but I thought we adapted better to the conditions.
"Both teams tried to keep it on the floor and play football, but at times that was very difficult.
"Sometimes this season we've let ourselves down, but on Saturday the lads were superb and really listened to what Sav (assistant Sav Savva) and I had to say."
Villa manager Adam Castle agreed that the better side probably shaded it ... just.
"There wasn't a lot in it," he said. "We just didn't have quite enough quality in the final third where we fell a little bit short.
"All three goals were quality goals among the hard work and endeavour.
"But I'm very disappointed to be out, so it's now down to concentrating on our league campaign."
Coysh, meanwhile, also paid tribute to referee Malcolm Mason's handling of the game, and added: "For a local derby it was excellently refereed.
"There wasn't one booking, which was absolutely superb for a local Herald Cup derby, and he took the conditions into consideration too."
Galmpton Gents Reserves and Denbury Athletic avoided potential round two banana skins in emphatic style, with both battling back from conceding early goals to win 7-1.
Paignton Villa's Polish striker had given his side an early lead against Premier Division side Galmpton, but Villa's cause wasn't helped by a first-half red card for Lee Florence who was sent off for handball on the goal-line.
By that time, the Gents had already established a 3-1 lead and John Glasser made it 4-1 from the penalty spot.
Glasser went on to complete his hat-trick, as did Jail Ale man of the match Sean Ripley, while substitute Simon Primmer was also on target.
Denbury, meanwhile, had the task of trying to tame runaway Division Six leaders Bishopsteignton United.
David Scott volleyed home from the edge of the box to give unbeaten United an early lead, but Denbury capitalised on a defensive mix-up to take 2-1 advantage into the break.
Division Four Denbury then ran riot in the second half, with Aaron Paget's hat-trick complemented by strikes from Matt Guy (2), Jamie Felton and an own goal.
Central defender Neil Hawkins made a successful return from injury to lead Denbury's back line well, and manager Darren Nethercott said: "It could have been even more in the second half.
"They got tired and we got stronger. We were 1-0 down after the first 10 minutes, but then we found our feet."
Division Four leaders Watcombe Wanderers came closest to causing the day's big upset when they were 3-2 up with 20 minutes at home to Premier side Waldon Athletic.
Taimak Wilson, Royston Carrington and Steve Tout had put Watcombe ahead, but Waldon hit back to win 4-3.
The home side also had to see out the game with 10 men after losing Jail Ale man of the match Sean Finch to a second yellow card.
Their player-manager Jeremy Carter felt hard done by too when he was penalised for a handball in the box, which led to Waldon making it 3-3 from the spot through Curtis Booth.
Gavin Fitzgerald (2) and a splendid long-range effort from Simon Ross sealed the win for Waldon, whose discipline and cool heads proved vital in claiming the win according to manager Keith Aplin.
Two other Herald Cup games started, but neither finished — Brixham Town's home game against Stoke Gabriel Reserves was abandoned after 42 minutes, while East Allington United's clash with Beesands Rovers lasted just 25.
Comment on this story