Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Okehampton Argyle 1

Stoke Gabriel 5

ARGYLE came up against one of the league's top sides on Saturday. Although they matched their visitors for 45 minutes, the defence and midfield went to sleep in the second half and this allowed a good Stoke Gabriel team to show their class and come away from Simmons Park with a convincing victory. This was Argyle's worst defeat this season.

The first half was an even affair but Stoke took the lead on 21 minutes when Olly Critchlow's close range shot was parried by Craig Mulholland for Dave Worthington to score from the rebound.

Argyle fought back but Stoke came close to increasing their lead when Critchlow's long range volley hit the post and Ben Towler's curling shot saw Craig Mulholland make a superb diving save. On 32 minutes, Argyle's hard work paid off ending with Brad Ausden took the ball past his defender and crossed hard and low into the box for John Wiseman to finish from five yards.

For the first few minutes of the second period, Argyle took the game to the visitors and looked as if they might go for the win, but their illusions were destroyed in a ten minute period when they conceded three goals. On 49 minutes, Ben Towler scored with a fierce cross shot from a narrow angle to give Stoke the lead and four minutes later, the Critchlow's low ball into the box from the right wing was allowed to reach Towler who slotted home from close range. Stoke were rampant now and on 57 minutes, Towler played a clever ball forward and the Argyle defence remained static as Tim Porter ran on to slot home. Okehampton's heads were down now and it was no surprise when with 15 minutes left, Stoke increased their lead with Towler completing his hat-trick with a fierce shot from 25 yards.

Argyle nearly scored a consolation goal with two minutes to go when John Wiseman hit just wide from the edge of the box, but the second half belonged to Stoke and they fully deserved their victory.