ladies 4

Okehampton Columbine Ladies 4

IT was not long before Okehampton's Jo Moppett gave the home side a wake-up call with a superb solo run and a well struck ball past the keeper to open the scoring. The visitors continued to apply pressure and great linking play through the midfield of Winnie Rademaker, Jo Drake and Kim Davey saw the ball swiftly forward to captain Lesley Bingham who was well placed to see the ball home, to give Oke a 2-0 lead.

Exeter University stepped up and forced play into the Oke half where keeper Shannon Osman organised her defence of Anna Cherrington, Katie Adams, Jane Jones well. But the home side attacked in numbers and a deflected rising ball across the D was tipped in to keep University in the game. Hungry for more the home ladies continued to commit players but quick defensive work cleared the ball out to find Jo Moppett on the break and she was unlucky not to score.

Then came a period of play with both sides eager to dominate and it was Oke that gained the upper hand when Hannah Whiteley slotted the ball in at the far post for goal number three for the visitors.

The home side continued to fight back and after a period of pressure in the Oke D University were awarded a short corner which they converted just as the half time whistle blew.

University came back from the break with renewed vigour and scored early in the second half to level the score. This gave the both teams extra incentive and energy but despite some great chances from both sides the score remained equal until a strong strike from the University forward was just out of reach of keeper Shannon, who was injured in her efforts to save it.

Oke played the remainder of the game with a kicking back, during which time University were awarded a short corner but Carol Taylor prevented the shot on goal. Oke cleared their defensive lines and in a last valiant effort Jo Moppett scored the equaliser in the closing minute of the game.

This was a good result in an evenly fought match.

n This week Okehampton ladies play their final league game of the season, at home to Plym Valley.