Barnstaple Veterans 3

Okehampton Argyle Veterans 1

THE visitors acquitted themselves well during the opening exchanges and more than matched their hosts.

Barnstaple Veterans dominated possession early on but their attack was comfortably thwarted by a solid defence of Harris, Wilson, Fumble and Hitchen – well marshalled by Cann in goal. However, Voaden and Agnew were struggling to get any grip on the midfield as Barnstaple pushed forward but chances were kept to a minimum with Cann rarely having a save to make.

Argyle had a couple of half chances, a snap shot from Voaden and a header from Drew being the best of these.

Barnstaple scored the first when the referee awarded a free kick to the home side for handball. Despite the acute angle, Barnstaple shot at goal and a mis-kick in the six yard box left Cann stranded.

Argyle started the second period brightly and with Gill now joining Drew up front, looked much more threatening — leading to the equaliser in the 52nd minute. Hauerslev knocked the ball in to Gill and despite the attention of three defenders, he found Drew's fine run, whose chip gave the keeper no chance. Eight minutes later Barnstaple regained the lead with a near post header.

Argyle came closest to a further goal with a fine drive from Voaden that the home keeper did well to turn round the post. They were then to suffer conceding a third with the last play of the game as they were caught out on the counter-attack.