Okehampton Argyle

Seconds 1

Bickleigh 0

WITH league leaders Countess Wear and Okehampton both undefeated so far it is important they keep up their winning run to make sure a gap doesn't open up.

Okehampton started the game brightly playing some good football and with Paul Yipp linking up well with Ricky Drew and Darren Prouse up front they started to cut holes in the Bickleigh defence and two good early chances that were unfortunately missed.

But with 12 minutes gone Okehampton were dealt a massive blow as a high ball pumped into the Okehampton half and as goalkeeper Harry Geering came to collect a bouncing ball above his head his momentum carried him outside the box. With everyone expecting a free kick on the edge of the box and a yellow card for a genuine mistake the referee brandished a red card and sent the Oke keeper off. Okehampton quickly reorganised and centre back Chris Dearing more than capably took over in goal and Argyle to their credit carried on playing good football but in a somewhat less attacking formation.

With things settling down well Okehampton were dealt another blow in the 35th minute when Ricky Drew had to be replaced by Mark Hampson after a clash of heads with a Bickleigh player.

The rest of the half saw a very competent Okehampton side go in at the break feeling possibly down on the score being 0-0. With Hampson now sitting in behind Aaron Ditchburn and Kev Gill at the back Argyle started the second half confident. With Dearing in goal playing more of a sweeping role on the edge of his area, this allowed Argyle to push forward and still create more chances and they got their deserved reward in the 60th minute when excellent running from Ben Harris and quick short passing with Daniel Gibbs took Harris into the box and finish a good pass and movement passage of play. Even at 1-0 up Okehampton didn't sit back and defend with their ten men, they were still the team that were looking the more likely to score next and this was partly due to the endless tireless running of Stuart Entwistle and Ricky Wooldridge.

Yipp and Prouse both had chances to make the result bigger but unfortunately missed their chances.

l Next week Argyle Seconds are at home to Sampford Peverell, ko 2.15pm.