NEWTON Abbot Spurs’ penultimate game of the season ended in a draw against local rivals Teignmouth AFC on Good Friday.

The driving rain at The Rec made for a much slicker pitch than usual and was perhaps more of a inconvenience to the supporters watching than the players on the field.

That being said, Spurs manager Simon Revell commented that, “The game wasn’t the best- conditions taken into account” adding that his team were “Still the better footballing team and had the chances to win the game.”

It was the hosts who opened the scoring in this 1-1 tie with the dangerous, in-swinging corners from fullback Tyler Joint eventually paying off. He had put the Teignmouth goalkeeper under pressure a few times and when one corner was poorly cleared, Owen Green was on hand to pick up the ball and fire low and hard into the back of the net.

Given the league standings, Spurs may well have been expected to go on and collect the three points but their visitors had other ideas. With half an hour on the clock, Danny Carroll popped up with the equaliser. His effort from outside of the box may or may not have been deflected, it was difficult to decipher through the wind and rain, but either way, it looped over Owen Vosper and got Teignmouth on the board.

The likes of Frazer Rudge, goalscorer Green, Jacob Pickavant and Jaden Bond continued to put together great passages of play down the right for Spurs, in spite of the difficult conditions.

All the same, the teams were level at the break and given just how wet it was, the quality of football being played was impressive.

Joint picked up where he left off and used his incisive left-foot to great effect in the second half. One run and pass in particular stood out but Green was unable to keep his effort on target. They were the two outlets for Spurs though, the latter receiving plenty of opportunities to drive at his fullback throughout the game.

Teignmouth were the first to turn to their bench, introducing the likes of Morgan Green and Jamie Davenport.

When it was Spurs’ turn to make substitutes, it began with one Rudge replacing another, Frazer making way for Nick in the middle of the park.

The wind got even more involved in proceedings in the second half with experienced striker Stuart Morgan having a couple of half-chances and with the home side knocking on the door, Teignmouth defended astutely, even clearing one effort off of the line.

Liam Jones’ side were able to hang on and take away a point, Revell musing that “Teignmouth will go away happy with a point whereas we are disappointed with just one, which tells you where our expectations are at now.”

He continued, “An unreal stop from their goalie denied us the three points”, also saying, “Credit to Teignmouth, they defended their goal very well and it would’ve been nice to snatch a derby win. It just wasn’t to be.”

Jones meanwhile had this to say: “It’s been a tough season for us so to give up home advantage for the derby and manage to get a ourselves a point was very pleasing.”

Looking at the season as a whole and Revell and co have plenty of positives to take. [We] “just didn’t quite have enough [to win the title]. That being said, to compete like we have with this young squad is incredible. The lads have been brilliant!”

Spurs have secured second place behind Sidmouth Town and close out the season against Torrington AFC at home next week. Meanwhile, 13th-placed Teignmouth still have trips to Sidmouth, Middlezoy Rovers and Bishops Lydeard to come.