Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East
Okehampton Argyle 2
Budleigh Salterton 1
THIS was a tremendous victory for Argyle against a team placed fifth in the league. All the squad again earned just reward for their constant hard work and never-say-die attitude against an in-form Budleigh team who had won nine of their last 10 matches.
Budleigh outclassed Okehampton for the first 20 minutes playing fast, clever one-touch football and Argyle found it difficult to get the ball out of their own half as the visiting midfield and defence gave the home players no time to get the ball under control - so it was no surprise when Budleigh took the lead after twelve minutes.
A long throw-in was back-headed across the face of the Argyle goal and Grant Vansone headed Budleigh into the lead from close in.
To Okehampton's credit, they dug in and refused to let the visitors run away with the game and as the first half drew to a close, Argyle began to threaten the visitor's goal for the first time. However, Budleigh had dominated the first 45 minutes and only resolute defending had kept them at bay. To use a well worn cliché, football is a game of two halves and to the home fans amazement it was Argyle who came out after the break and started to dominate affairs.
Just minutes in and Steve Williams broke through on the right and was unlucky to see his shot go wide of the Budleigh goal. Argyle continued to press and got their just reward after 50 minutes, when a Budleigh defender desperately trying to stop a cross getting through to an Argyle forward clearly handled the ball. Up stepped reliable spot-kick taker Steve Kinsey, to dispatch the ball past Budleigh keeper Chris Wright and level the game.
Argyle continued to press and on 62 minutes, Steve Kinsey's beautifully flighted diagonal ball was superbly volleyed home from 18 yards by Frankie Nomah-Koneh to give the Okehampton the lead.
Budleigh then came back and the home side can thank keeper Harry Geering for a string of fine saves that preserved their lead.
The Argyle managers clever substitutions helped keep the lead safe at this stage with Ed Squire and Rickie Wooldridge adding pace and fire to midfield, and then defender Mark Burdus replaced Nomah-Koneh to provide an extra man at the back. Even then, it was Okehampton who came closest to scoring again as Burdus found himself with only the keeper to beat on a foray upfield but somehow Wright managed to keep his side-footed effort out.
Frankie Nomah-Koneh and Matt Mortimer took the eye for Argyle but once again this win was a real squad effort.
Argyle play in the league Bickleigh at Saturday at home, kick-off 3pm; on Sunday they are home to Royal Marines, ko 3pm and home to Alphington, ko 6.30pm. In the Devon and Exeter division four Argyle Reserves are at home to Bampton, ko 3pm. In the D and E division seven Argyle thirds are away on Saturday to Culm Utd Reserves, 3pm and away to Bampton Reserves on Monday, April 26, ko 6.45pm.