Oke demolish lackluster Tavistock!!!

Okehampton 7

Tavistock 1

After losing some of their key players from last year Okehampton went into their first friendly with a very youthful looking first team, youth aside though they passed the ball with pace and accuracy and you could tell their pre-season training had really had an effect on the side. The back three and keeper looked solid throughout and the midfield showed poise and precision to unlock the oppositions defence on numerous occasions. After a stuttering start the hosts started to settle into their new surroundings, Jake LLoyd, and Sam Whalley having been promoted from the seconds and the returning Tom Forrester from university. And it was Lloyd who opened the scoring when he pounced on a lose ball in the area to fire the home side ahead with only ten minutes gone, Lloyd then added a second with a lovely flick which the keeper could only turn into the corner to double Oke's lead after a sensational run from Whalley. Tavi rallied and made the most of Okehampton's attacking formation when they followed up on a lose ball before Oke could react and scored a lovely far post finish to bring the game close again. The hosts though full of confidence continued to dominate and it was only a matter of time before they scored more goals, ths time a fantastically worked short corner in which Forrester's drag flick was perfectly directed to skipper Parsons who had the simplest of finishes. Three one at half time didnt flatter the home side and they had created so many chances it could of been more. With all the forwards

rotating and each individually causing the visitors problems there was

always going to be more goals, good combination play from Whalley, Josh

Speak and Parsons created an open goal for LLoyd but he miss cued his

shot. Forrester finally got in on the act when he bagged a brace in side ten minutes of the second half, the first a fine reverse finish and the second and easy tap in after a quality delivery by the ever impressive Chris Luxton. The sixth only involved four players from their own sixteen, Man of the match Luke Liversidge quick thinking

found James Rogers who found Parsons, he then went on a run and beat

two players before undercutting the ball past the advancing keeper into

the goal after great running by Luxton to draw the defenders away. The last goal saw a good team goal with the ball going all the way back around the top of the area before Joff Stephens found Parsons who flicked it over the keeper and Forrester poached his hat-trick for the seventh. Their was still time for the away team to press but some outstanding defending from Liversidge, Cooper and Rogers

left keeper Harvey very little to do but what he had to do he dealt

with ease. Paterson's running though carrying a injury showed just how keen this team is to play and play good hockey, a fantastic start to what they will hope to be a good season. Next week Okehampton travel to Ottery st Mary.