| Match Report |
Just three points separated Okehampton and hosts Penzance in the GoCrea8 South West 1 Hockey league match. This bottom of the league clash was a daunting task as Okehampton travelled without their regular goal keeper so they drafted in young Matthew Westlake to make his full senior debut. Folllowing a rousing team talk from Jake Lloyd, Okehampton started to dominate the early passages of play. Stuart Jarvis using his pace down the right wing was causing all sorts of problems for the Penzance defence, however the forward line failed to capitalise on the opportunities created. Okehampton's defence of Caleb Bourne, Tim Morgan and Tom Hutchins dealt calmly with any Penzance attack and although Okehampton had the better of the first half both sides went in at half time 0-0. The second half started off as the first half ended with Okehampton putting pressure on the Penzance goal. Finally their persistence paid off with Toby Lloyd coolly smashing in a low drive to the left-hand corner of the Penzance goal. The home side rallied and soon the young goalkeeper Westlake was called into action, producing a raft of saves way beyond his young tender years. The more senior Neil Rowlands combined with the young goalkeeper to make a goalline clearance from a Penzance short corner. Okehampton pressed the Penzance defence again, and finally Chris Luxton found the back of the net after missing several easier chances. Midfielders Brett Lawson, Jacob James and Ben Yelland were now dominating the middle of the pitch, another young player Reuben Bourne made the Penzance goal keeper produce a fine save high to his right hand side. Bourne then produced a pinpoint cross to pick out Jones who on the volley rifled the ball past the despairing Penzance keeper. Westlake in the Okehampton goal was called upon again to make another outstanding save, and with time running out Okehampton were awarded a penalty corner in which a well worked routine saw Luxton find the unmarked Jake Lloyd who finished the tie with a well deserved fourth goal for the visitors. The young goalkeeper Matt Westlake was rightly named man of the match.
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