Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Okehampton Argyle 0

Appledore 1

THIS game was decided by two second half penalties but unfort-unately for Argyle, having seen Appledore score, they missed theirs and subsequently succumbed to a spot kick for the second week running.

Appledore came into the game with a tremendous away record of only one defeat in ten games, which has seen them in the race for the league title. They started like a house on fire with Dan Jenkins almost opening the scoring inside the first minute.

As the half wore on Appledore continued to dominate, but a combination of resolute Argyle defending and some smart goalkeeping from young Aaron Dearing kept them at bay.

In addition to their fine away record, Appledore also have the best defensive record in the league and Argyle were finding it difficult to make any headway against their well drilled back line.

As half time approached, Ian Tickle in the Appledore goal had rarely been troubled, although Roger Bonaparte went close with a header from a Tallan Burns' corner.

Appledore's first half dominance should have seen them going into the break in front but Argyle manager Kevin Taylor would have been pleased with his side's defending.

The second half began in similar vein to the first with Appledore in the ascendancy; they were rewarded in the 56th minute when a rash challenge from Dale Chadwick on Brian Levein resulted in a penalty. Levein picked himself up and sent Aaron Dearing the wrong way with his spot kick.

Dearing then pulled off two wonderful saves to keep Argyle in the game and the introduction of Ross Voaden on the hour was the catalyst for the first period of sustained pressure from Argyle.

Voaden had already forced Ian Tickle into his first real save of the afternoon when, in the 70th minute, he received a pass wide on the left and beat four players on a mazy dribble into the penalty area before seeing his shot blocked by the arm of the Appledore centre half.

Unfortunately for Argyle, the usually reliable Dale Chadwick blasted his penalty high over the crossbar.

Argyle continued to dominate proceedings until play was halted for five minutes by a stray dog on the pitch and, as it was finally led away by its embarrassed owner, with it went the impetus in the game from the home side.

In truth, although Argyle applied some late pressure, Appledore looked more likely to add to their lead on the counter than Argyle did of grabbing a late equaliser with Aaron Dearing pulling off two more fine saves. However, in the final minute, the Appledore left back miscued his clearance from another Ross Voaden cross right onto the centre half's head and away to safety.

This narrow defeat makes it only one win in five for Argyle, despite defending better and an Oke man of the match performance from Aaron Dearing.