Okes great performance brings home the points from Appledore

South West Peninsula League Division One East

Sat 13th March

 

Appledore 2  Okehampton Argyle 3

 

This was a superb display by Argyle against a highly placed Appledore team, who had won through to the Devon Premier Cup final the previous Wednesday.

 

Okehampton started by playing some lovely football and matched their hosts in all departments of the game, but fell behind on 15 minutes when the usually reliable Dan Johnston kicked over the ball when attempting to clear and allowed it to slip through to Appledore’s Steve Skinner who fired home from close in.  Argyle did not allow their heads to drop and came back at their hosts with Matt Sanders taking the eye in midfield and Frankie Nomah-Koneh and Darren Prouse always troubling the home defence.  After 25 minutes, Argyle won a direct free kick just outside the box and Matt Sanders stepped up to curl it beautifully around the defensive wall and into the bottom corner of the net.  The game continued very evenly, and Argyle were unlucky not to get a penalty when a shot from Nomah-Koneh appeared to be handled on the home goal line.  Moments before half-time, Dan Johnston again allowed the ball to slip through his legs in the Argyle box, and in the goalmouth scramble that ensued, Appledore’s Skinner was brought down.  Adam Copp fired home the resulting penalty giving Okes keeper Harry Geering no chance.

 

The second half saw Okehampton bring on midfielder Ed Squire for defender Mark Burdus and really push forward in an attempt to level the match.  Argyle were now pushing Appledore back and constantly threatening an equaliser with Frankie Nomah-Koneh combining well with Kel Fofala on the left and Daren Prouse showing some fine touches in the traditional centre-forward role.  When the home side did break out, good defensive work by Chris Wills, Stuart Entwhistle and Dan Johnston kept them at bay with midfielder and captain James Williams covering a massive amount of ground to help out at both ends.  An inspired substitution turned the game for Okehampton when their managers brought on forward Steve Williams and attacking midfielder Steve Kinsey for midfielders Matt Sanders and Jonjo Fellows with twenty minutes remaining.  The Okes now playing with three up front constantly threatened the home goal and it was a just reward when on 70 minutes, Darren Prouse played a beautiful pass through to Argyle’s man of the match Frankie Nomah-Koneh, who carried the ball into the box before firing the ball into the back of the Appledore net.  Okehampton continued to push forward looking for all three points and with only five minutes remaining, a long through ball saw Steve Williams outpace the home defence and brilliantly lob the ball over the advancing home keeper to give the Okes a deserved victory.

 

This was a great team performance with every member of the squad playing their part to ensure a fine victory and both sides deserve credit for producing an exciting spectacle for the large crowd that turned out.

 

Next Saturday’s fixtures:

South West Peninsula League:

1sts v Ottery St Mary home 3pm

Devon & Exeter League

Div 4: 2nds v Newtown 3rds away 3pm

Div 7: 3rds v Honiton Town 2nds home 3pm