Okes edge out Civil in end to end game

Okehampton Argyle First Team Match Report

South West Peninsula League Division One East

Sat 21st January

  Okehampton Argyle  2     Exeter Civil Service  1

 

Although Civil are lying in the lower reaches of the League this season, this was never going to be an easy game for the Okes.  Exeter Civil Service are something of a bogey team for Argyle and had already beaten them at Simmons Park in the County Cup this season and held Argyle to a draw in the away League fixture.  On a difficult surface and with a blustery wind, both teams attempted to play good football and served up an exciting match.

 

A scrappy opening 15 minutes saw neither side take control on the heavy pitch, and when the opening goal arrived on 18 minutes it was Okehampton who took the lead.  Will Hawking picked up the ball on the edge of the box and moved to the left before brilliantly turning back on himself to shoot low pass the outstretched arm of Gibbons in the Civil goal and into the bottom right hand corner of the net.  The goal seemed to rejuvenate Civil who pressed Okehampton back and were unfortunate not to gain an equaliser.  On 26 minutes, Taylor's shot was superbly saved by Harry Geering in the Okes' goal, a minute later Densham headed over and on the half hour, Taylor again, saw his long range effort hit the right hand post.  With Civil pushing forward for an equaliser, Okehampton punished them with a well worked attack.  On 35 minutes, Luke Alden on the left hand side for Argyle went on a great run down the touchline, cut inside and beat another defender on the edge of the box and delivered a superb low cross for Hawking to fire the ball into the roof of the net.

 

The second half began like the first in a very even fashion with some exciting end to end football, but it was Civil who scored the only goal of the half on 65 minutes.  A long cross was punched away by Geering but fell kindly to the visitor's Sean Densham who made no mistake.  Okehampton should have put the game out of reach on 70 minutes.  Squire and Hawking combined well, but Hawking shot well over the bar.  On 77 minutes, Argyle had a strong appeal for  a penalty turned down after Hawking appeared to be held back in the box and two minutes later Dave Youlden's long range effort went inches wide as Gibbons in the Civil goal went walkabout.

 

The Okes really had to grind out this result against a Civil side who belied their League position and the team will be well pleased with all three points.  Several players stood out:  Ed Squire had a strong game in midfield and Will Hawking led the front line well, but man of the match must go to Matt Mortimer who put in a faultless display in the centre of the defence.

 

Next Saturday's fixtures

 

South West Peninsula League 1sts v Alphington home 2.15pm

Devon & Exeter League 2nds v Hemyock away 2.15pm