South Devon League

Division 2

Tuesday 26th May 2026

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.47

Ashburton 1 Babbacombe Corinthians 2, attendance 22

20’ 0-1 (pen)

62’ 0-2

71’ 1-2

@ Chuley Hill

Ashburton

TQ13 7RW

No Admission or Programme.

This hadn’t been my intended game tonight, but having turned up at Ilsington Villa (where 5th were hosting 2nd in the Premier Division) to find it deserted (turns out the hosts couldn’t be bothered to raise a team), it meant a mad dash to Ashburton instead, some six miles further south west, but due to kick off fifteen minutes earlier than my first choice game. Luckily for me it kicked off seventeen minutes later than scheduled, otherwise I’d have missed the kick off. It was also good to squeeze into the last parking space too, otherwise it would have been a hike back up the hill, in sweltering heat, as the ground is in a very tight lane, on the eastern side of the A38 from the town.

It’s a very pleasant setting, with the car park raised behind the entrance side goal and the clubhouse/changing rooms in the near right hand corner. A pair of dugouts are on the right hand side, whilst tall trees run along the opposite touchline, offering welcomed shade, with a gentle side to side slope running down towards here. The match was 3rd versus 2nd in the league table, with neither able to catch already crowned champions Signal Box Oak Villa. The visitors were guaranteed the runners up spot regardless of tonight’s result, but Ashburton needed to win, as they could still be overhauled by fourth placed Drake, who are three points behind them, but with a game in hand and this was Ashburtons final game of the season.

It was played in a very competitive manner, with both teams fully committed for the entirety and an excellent game to watch as a neutral. Babbacombe led 0-1 at the break, courtesy of a twentieth minute penalty, with the best chance for Ashburton coming just before halftime, when they saw a header cleared off the line. Babbacombe doubled their lead just after the hour mark, curling a shot into the far corner from just inside the box. Ashburton pulled it back to 1-2 with nineteen minutes left, when a corner from the left was flicked in at the near post, but were unable to force an equaliser.