BOVEY Tracey AFC enjoyed a “great statement win” on Boxing Day as they outclassed Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police in the South West Peninsula League.

Significantly, this was the first time this season that the Moorlanders were bouncing back from a defeat as their last outing saw them exit the FA Vase at the hands of Downton FC.

Manager Ben Gerring alluded to this potential pressure, commenting: “That was part of our chat before the game, this is the first time we’ve had to come back from adversity, the first time playing after a defeat and so there will have been questions asked about us, the lads handled it excellently.”

Bovey started the stronger of the two sides at The Western Counties Roofing Ground and they had a goal to show for it, Cal Leech converting from a Jack Brimming cross with a diving header beyond the reaches of Jimmy Weeks.

The home side continued to push forward and there were plenty of tackles flying in but too many fouls being given, both sides agreeing that the ref was far too pedantic. Gerring said, “It became very bitty, I think the referee didn’t help with that, giving soft free-kicks for both sides so it was very stop-start, which killed our momentum.”

Yellows were being handed out fairly easily too, Bovey captain Cliff Walters having his name taken in the first half along with Stoke trio Sam Hancox, Joe Aldous and Jamie Down.

Talking of Hancox and the former Newton Abbot Spurs man was forced off with an injury, Elliott Osman being sent on in his place.

From the restart, Bovey doubled their lead courtesy of Brimming. Owen Stockton won the initial header and the ball fell down to Brimming, who beat Weeks to the ball and slotted it through the legs of the oncoming ‘keeper.

This was a general point of frustration for Stoke manager Matt Hayden, he said: “They were first to the ball for most of the game and the second balls they picked up well, it was those fine margins where they were better than us overall.”

Stoke skipper Reece Somers blazed a half chance over the bar at the end of the first half with an improvement needed from his side after the break.

They got the desired response, “We restored a little bit of pride for ourselves and certainly worked harder, making it more difficult for Bovey.”

This bright patch from the visitors was eventually snuffed out, Weeks denying Ollie Aplin from close range after Brimming’s sharp work and the nippy winger was at it again, driving down the right flank and firing home, low and hard, for 3-0.

Gerring had plenty of praise for the goalscorer and a number of players in fact. “Jack will get the plaudits and rightly so, his 1v1s were deadly, getting goals and assists, you get that from Jack. We play in a system with two out-and-out wingers and he’s really thriving so credit to him.

“A special mention needs to go to Owen Stockton today too though, I thought he was outstanding, he gave us a base, anything that came in the air he ate it up, reading of the game was superb.

“There were some individual defensive masterclasses out there” with Stockton, Josh Searle and Harvey Coggins getting the headlines there.

As the hour mark came and went, both managers turned to their benches and Bovey’s Stuart Bowker was certainly involved, having a goal ruled out for offside, coming to blows with Stoke defender Jordan McCarthy and also evading Weeks only to roll his effort wide.

The game needed a Stoke goal for the neutrals with proceedings meandering towards a quiet conclusion, and that is exactly what came.

Out of nothing really, the ball fell to Joe Aldous on the edge of the area and Dom Aplin, whose view may well have been obstructed, got a hand to the shot but couldn’t keep it out.

This flicker of light for the Bees didn’t last long at all, Bovey going down the other end and regaining their three-goal cushion via Bowker, the standout work being done by Brimming once more.

Bovey have certainly had better performances this year but equally, “It’s a nice place to be in when you’re capable of winning by good margins even when you’re not at your best.”

On the flipside, Hayden reflected: “We can’t take anything away from Bovey, there’s a reason why they’re top of the league and there’s a reason why they’re undefeated.”

He continued, “They definitely outran us, they worked harder than us, they seemed to want it more than us.

“They’ve got something to hold on to it regards to going after the league title, Ben said before the game that we’ve dropped too many league points, whether that crept into it maybe, I don’t know.”

With Bridport FC also winning on Boxing Day, Bovey remain two points behind them in second, with three games in hand. Stoke meanwhile sit seventh with just three points separating them and fourth-placed Middlezoy Rovers.

Looking forward, Hayden said, “It’s just about every single game now, playing with pride. There’s always a goal or a target that can be reached so that’s what we’ve said to the lads now, you have to turn up for every game, we’ve got to finish above [last season’s finish] to show that we’re improving and heading in the right direction.”

Next up, on Saturday, January 3, Bovey visit Middlezoy at the Ethan Berry Pavilion and Stoke welcome Okehampton Argyle to Broadley Lane.

Elsewhere on December 26, the spoils were shared in the South Devon derby at Coombe Valley.

Teignmouth AFC had a penalty saved by Newton Abbot Spurs shot-stopper Kane Gregory after just two minutes and it took until the 79th minute for Liam Jones’ side to break the deadlock. With a home win looking more and more likely, Spurs then had their opportunity from 12 yards out which Toby Pullman calmly converted, earning them a point.