Kingsbridge and Salcombe ladies 6

Okehampton ladies 5

KINGSBRIDGE and Salcombe went straight into the attack and kept up relentless pressure on a fine humid day.

Stalwart defending stopped them from scoring in the first ten minutes despite several short corners. The speed and determination of Carole Taylor and Brieze Read for Oke blocked several well organised attacks.

However it was Kingsbridge ladies who scored the opening goal.

The visitors replied with Kim Davey, having another superb game, kept taking the ball up the right with hard tackling and great speed. She crossed the ball several times but Okehampton could not quite score before Lesley Bingham, always good at making space and the one touch pass, seized an opportunity to equalise.

Kingsbridge were then unlucky to have the whistle go for a short corner just before the ball went into the goal, not once, but twice. Despite impressive footwork by plucky goalie Viv Weatherington, Kingsbridge again pierced the Oke defence taking the score to 2-1 at half time.

Kingsbridge again went straight for the jugular for the start of the second half. They closely marked Oke forward Jo Moppet but she broke away along the back line and skimmed it past the goalie to equalise.

Jo scored again, this time from the top of the circle and Okehampton finally had the upper hand to make it 3-2. The play went back and forth. Sandy Douglas for Oke made some outstanding runs to feed the ball forward. Often the defence were running at full pelt to try to control the fast and furious passing of the Kingsbridge side. Viv Weatherington stopped several strikes.

Louise Weller, Joey Drake and Alex Collins fought with determination and spirit to give the forwards chances but it was Kingsbridge who scored again with a splendid deflection off a strike from the top of the circle.

Kingsbridge scored again following a scramble in the goal mouth before a hit out led to Okehampton scoring. Debbie Pritchard passed to Louise Weller, on to Alex Collins through to Lesley Bingham to Jo Moppett who scored for a real team goal.

Kingsbridge scored again to lead 6-4. Okehampton threw themselves into attack, became over-committed leaving Viv alone with three attackers running into the circle.

A skilful shot from Jo Moppett put Okehampton back in the running. After two minutes more fighting the final whistle went on this exciting game. Player of the match VivWeatherington.