Plymouth University 3

Okehampton Columbines 3

IN the first few minutes it looked like Okehampton would score.

Jo Moppett led a determined attack, using good passing with Kim Davey and Viv Weatherington to wrong-foot the opposition but the ball ended up outside the posts.

Fighting back Plymouth moved swiftly onto the offensive and with similarly sharp passing scored the first goal with a cracking shot. 

Despite injury Netty Collette, sharing a position with the ever-effective Jane Jones, kept Plymouth at bay for a while.  Plymouth then gained a short corner and scored with a ball very close to the post putting them 2 nil up.

Okehampton responded by tightening up their passing and close marking in defence which frustrated Plymouth. 

Long balls up the wings were worked well by halves and backs. Sandy Douglas, left back, with typical panache, cut off attacking passes and fed Okehampton's forwards continuously.

Sarah Toms, joint player of the match with goalie Sophie Whiteley, wheeled across the pitch with great energy and determination to up Okehampton's score line.

Viv Weatherington slipped in Okehampton's first goal which followed a well set movement between Jo Moppett and Kim Davey. 

In pushing the play into the Plymouth half Okehampton had to run back at speed to break up Plymouth's attack on more than one occasion. 

Sophie Whiteley, sometimes left isolated, defended the goal in masterly fashion. 

Plymouth's third goal came after Sophie had cleared the ball from the goal mouth twice but was finally defeated by strikes from all directions.

Okehampton was unlucky not to score on several occasions with balls just missing the goal mouth or that final tap over the line.  Plymouth had similar close calls with at least one ball going over the cross bar.

Finally the Okehampton attack paid off as Jo Moppett got the goal Okehampton deserved through incredible pace, determination and neat team work.

Okehampton's third goal was similarly a team creation with Jo Moppett getting the final strike and making it look easy.

The draw fairly reflected the balance of play. 

The goalies from both sides played outstandingly and without their calm expertise the score line would have been much higher.

Okehampton have no game next week and play again December 4 against Kingsbridge and Salcombe at home with 2.30 start.