STOKE Gabriel & Torbay Police’s long-awaited return to action didn’t quite go to plan on Saturday, December 13.

Due to three consecutive postponements, the Bees went without a game for the best part of a month.

Their last outing prior to the weekend was a 3-2 victory at home against Ilminster Town and, as luck would have it, this time around they visited the Archie Gooch Pavilion for the reverse fixture.

It took just two minutes for Ilminster to open the scoring and they took a two-goal lead into the half-time break.

Reece Somers halved the deficit only for Ilminster to strike again, making it 3-1.

Saul Vanes was on target next to give Stoke hope of a positive result but an equaliser evaded them, falling to a third defeat of the league campaign.

Newton Abbot Spurs jumped back ahead of them thanks to their impressive 6-2 victory over Torrington AFC at The Rec. The pair were locked together at two goals apiece heading into the second half before Spurs then ran away with it.

Little to no ground was lost to the leading two though as Bridport FC were held at home by Torridgeside AFC and Bovey Tracey AFC had their FA Vase third round clash, losing 3-1 against Downton FC at the WCR Ground.

Stoke have a cup game of their own to look forward to, welcoming the aforementioned Torridgeside to Broadley Lane in the WCP League Cup on Saturday, December 20.