STOKE Gabriel & Torbay Police FC squandered the opportunity to move up into fourth in the Walter C Parson SW Peninsula League table on Saturday, March 8.
A 3-1 defeat at Broadley Lane to fellow high-flyers Bridport FC spreads the deficit between the pair to four points, Jordan Thomas scoring the goal for the hosts.
Stoke still boast two games in hand over Bridport though and so will be confident of bridging the gap further down the line. Cullompton Rangers are another side above them who they have two games in hand on and Cully, who are second, were thrashed 6-0 by leaders Sidmouth Town to extend the latter’s lead at the summit.
Elsewhere, South Devon dup Bovey Tracey AFC and Newton Abbot Spurs overcame Middlezoy Rovers and Okehampton Argyle respectively.
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Jack Brimming bagged a brace for Bovey with Callum Leech joining him on the scoresheet in the 3-1 success over Middlezoy. This was a ninth win of the season for the club and they jump above Torridgeside AFC and into ninth as a result.
Spurs meanwhile are locked in a fascinating title race and they themselves move up the table, overtaking Bridport on goal difference, after their latest win. Toby Pullman struck a hat-trick at Simmons Park with Tyler Joint adding a single in this 4-0 success over an Argyle side in free-fall.
Other Peninsula League games saw Teignmouth AFC lose 2-0 at Crediton United, Honiton Town win 2-1 at Axminster Town and Bishops Lydeard fall 5-0 to Elburton Villa on home soil.
Midweek games may well (have) further changed the landscape as Spurs head(ed) to Crediton, but it remains tense all the same.
On the weekend, fifth-placed Stoke will go to sixth-placed Okehampton whilst Spurs host Elburton, Bridport take on Teignmouth and the top two get a Saturday off.