| Match Report |
An ever youthful Okehampton A travelled to Plymouth to take on an experienced OPM side who were a number of places ahead of the visitors in the table. Starting with a bare eleven it was always going to be an uphill struggle for the Oke side. The summit of this hill was rapidly shrouded from view as the home side quickly went 2-0 ahead from early pressure. The OPM forwards creating space and chances by moving the ball at pace around the top of the D. Oke gamely attacked but the experienced home side’s defence repelled the visitors without too much alarm. That hill was soon to become a distant blip on the horizon as Oke’s Jacob Smith was lost to a dislocated shoulder halfway through the first half. Down to 10 men the visitors conceded again to another short corner before the end of the first half. Oke started strongly in the second period and with valiant defence from the back 4 with George and Tim Morgan adding strength as well as a blend of youth and experience. This kept the home side at bay and frustrated their attacking line. Man of the match, Neil Rowlands, worked tirelessly across the middle of the pitch as OPM moved the ball sideways to stretch the weakened Oke side. As the visitors tired the home side penetrated the Oke defence again and again with Matt Westlake making numerous saves to ensure only 3 second half goals were conceded. The younger Oke players again acquitted themselves well in another positive performance despite the 6-0 result.
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