Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Division one East

Okehampton Argyle 2

Appledore 2

PAST encounters between Appledore and Okehampton have always been hard fought close affairs and Saturday's game at Simmons Park was no exception.

The visitor's squad was boosted by the inclusion of two forwards from Ilfracombe Town's Western League team and they showed their class but Argyle showed theirs too and both teams produced high quality exciting football with some superb passing. Appledore attacked early early on but Okehampton's defence stood firm and with tremendous work from the home midfield, Argyle began to take the game to the visitors.

On 17 minutes, Argyle took the lead when a superb Luke Alden run down the left saw him beat three defenders, carry the ball to the goal line then square it back for Ed Squire to crash home from just inside the box.

Appledore looked to equalised and Argyle's midfield and defence were forced to work hard to keep them at bay with Rob Clarke, Ed Squire and new signing Jake Batizovszsky working hard in midfield as well as spraying about some superb passes out of defence. Argyle's back four of Toby Gosling, Chris Wills, Dale Chadwick and Alex Wren looked solid and Gostling combined particularly well with the midfielders to work the ball forward. However, Argyle had to thank keeper Craig Mulholland for preserving their lead as he pulled off two brilliant saves from the dangerous Appledore forwards in the ten minutes before the break.

The second half continued like first with a competitive encounter producing superb football for the small crowd who had braved the freezing cold weather. Argyle looked more dangerous early on but on 78 minutes, Appledore's lively forward Ryan Turner equalised when he dribbled past two home defenders and rounded Mulholland to fire into the net. Within a minute, Argyle were back in the lead when another good move saw centre-forward James Jackson fire in a 30 yard shot which visiting keeper Kurtis Parkin could only push into the top of his net.

Argyle brought on Brad Ausden to replace the hard working Steve Madge up front and James Williams to replace Batizovszsky in midfield and continued to push forward but Appledore were always dangerous when they broke out. With five minutes remaining, Billy Tucker cut in from the right and fired home from 20 yards to level the match. Argyle did their utmost to take all three points and the visitors can thank Parkin for keeping things all square with a brilliant one handed save to push James Williams' cross-shot over the bar and then a superb diving save to push Luke Alden's stinging drive round the post.

Both teams deserve great credit for producing such an entertaining game in difficult conditions but man of the match goes to Argyle's Toby Gostling who put in a superb performance in the unaccustomed position of right back.

n This Saturday Argyle are away to Alphington in the league, kick-off 2.15pm; in Devon and Exeter division four Argyle Reserves are home to Exmouth Amateurs Reserves, kick-off 2.15pm.

n Recent Argyle 200 Club draw winners for October - week 17. £20, Liz Beer, number 120, £10, Les Beer, 57; wk 18. £20.T Squire, 69, £10, S Chammings. 43; wk 19, £20, J Westlake, 194. £10, J Gundry. 137; wk 20, £20, A King, 32, £10, V Jordan, 47. November, wk 21, £20, S Morrish, 5, £10, T Harris, 18; wk 22, £20, J Gundry, 137, £10, Steve Ausden, 59; wk 23, £20, Eva Parker, 202, £10, T Williams, 73; wk 24. £20, Gloria Smith, 98; .£10, J Burdus, 130. December, week 25, E Wright, ticket number 65, £20; Liz Beer, 60, £10; week 26, D Hayes, 21, £20. S Williams, 75, £10; week 27, J Wright, 23, £20, N Drew, 191, £10; week 28 P Cunliffe. 14, £20, P Carter, 72, £10. This week's winners: £20, Trevor Drew. 192; £10 Charlie Bond, 97.