South West Peninsula League Division One East

Okehampton Argyle 4

Stoke Gabriel 3

OKEHAMPTON achieved the Peninsula League's result of the day in defeating second placed Stoke Gabriel at Simmons Park to gain only their second win in eight outings this season.

This was a real spirited performance from the whole team and shows what this squad can achieve with a few breaks in their favour.

Okehampton started in fine form and the defence of Matt Sanders, Kev Gill, Shane Monnox and Dan Johnston dealt well with early Stoke pressure. The best chance of the first 15 minutes fell to Stoke, but goalkeeper Saul Scarry pulled off a fine save for the home side.

On 19 minutes, Darren Prouse delivered a lovely through ball to Adam Mortimer who outpaced the Stoke defence and fired past their keeper from the edge of the box to give Okehampton the lead. Stoke drew level, when a left wing corner was firmly headed home by Craig Duff with Scarry unsighted. Argyle came back strongly and ten minutes before the break, Matt Sanders released Mortimer again and he made no mistake from a narrow angle to give Okehampton a 2–1 lead. Adam Mortimer went close again only minutes later but just before half-time, Argyle had keeper Scarry to thank as he made two superb saves as Stoke tried to level the match.

The second half was only four minutes old when Argyle increased their lead as Mortimer outpaced the Stoke defence and fired home to complete his hat-trick, but the visitors just would not lie down and five minutes later, Duff curled home a brilliant free kick from the edge of the box. Back came Argyle again and on 66 minutes a through ball from Steve Kinsey released Adam Mortimer again, allowing him to lift the ball over the visitors' keeper to restore Okehampton's two goal advantage. The game's complexion changed again when Argyle's Matt Sanders was sent off for a second bookable offence. With only eleven minutes to go, Chris Wills was adjudged to have fouled a Stoke attacker in the box, and up stepped Craig Duff to complete his hat-trick with the spot kick. The visitors were denied an equaliser by a string of outstanding saves by home keeper Scarry.

l Next Saturday: Throgmorton Cup, firsts v Foxhole Stars home 2.30pm. Devon and Exeter Div 4, seconds v Sandford away 3pm. Devon and Exeter Div 7, thirds v Clyst Valley thirds home 3pm.