Ladies 1st XI Vs Torbay

Torbay 0

Okehampton ladies 1st - 2

On Saturday Okehampton ladies first team travelled down to Torquay to face struggling Torbay. As the final game before Christmas both teams were desperate for the points, oke to maintain their 100% record, Torquay to escape the relegation zone.

The game got off to a slow start on a bouncy pitch that was hampering oke’s usual fluid style of play. However after a short time the visitors settled into their game and started to produce some threatening runs into the D.

 Nicky Pedrick made numerous runs down the wing driving the ball into the line of waiting oke players but the ball wouldn’t find the back of the net. Not put off by numerous close misses oke upped the pressure and midfielders Lucy Wiseman and molly Marvin worked tirelessly beating the Torbay players to the ball and distributing the ball wide and into space.

The stalemate was broken when Hannah Gibbons fired a shot into the bottom corner making the score 1-0. Oke were more comfortable in the familiar position of being in the lead but knew they couldn’t take their foot off the pedal especially as the bouncy pitch allowed several stray balls through to the Torbay attackers. These were coolly dealt with by keeper Ella Kaye who is didn’t appear challenged by the pitch.

The players went in at half time 1-0 up but knowing they should further ahead. Captain Sophie whitely gave the players a rousing talk and they came out for the second half ready to work even harder. Laura Parsons and Hannah gibbons mopped up any balls that came their way and didn’t give the Torbay player and space to move the ball. This allowed S. whitely to drive the ball forward though the middle and use Helen Dalton on the wing. Unfortunately Dalton spent much of the half in the dugout nursing a head injury but Nicky Strawbridge stepped into the wing position and used her speed to beat players and move the ball.

Forwards Emily Rowlands, Hannah Whiteley and lesley Bingham liked well as always but struggled to get another goal. Bingham squeezed one in following a rebound from a short corner to make the score 2-0. Despite working hard to the end Oke couldn’t increase their lead past 2-0 nad this was how the game finished.

Okehampton ladies finish at the Christmas break top of the league 11 points clear and an impressive half way goal difference of 59.

League matches resume 12th Jan with first team up against Sidmouth & Ottery.