Carlsberg South West Peninsula League division one East

Newton Abbot Spurs 8

Okehampton Argyle 0

OKEHAMPTON arrived at Newton Abbot with the bare eleven, including manager Jamie Ware. Unsurprisingly Argyle slipped to their worst defeat of the season but to their credit tried to play football throughout and earned praise from the home supporters for their sporting attitude.

League positions suggested a victory for the home side and in the end it turned out to be a comfortable victory for Spurs but Argyle had their chances in a first half that was end to end and entertaining for the few hardy souls that braved the cold.

The first chance for Spurs came just two minutes into the game with a good build up which produced a fine save from Harry Geering. Just one minute later Argyle mustered their first effort of the game through Ross Voaden but the wide man, who looked a threat throughout the game, had his shot saved by Spurs’ keeper Rowland.

Spurs took the lead on 13 minutes and it was route one that undid Okehampton. Ian Wilkinson found space in midfield before sending a ball over the top that Matthews took on his chest before lobbing the advancing Geering from just inside the area. The lead was almost doubled on 21 minutes, Adam Dyson latching onto a fine flick through from Bradley but Geering got the better of Spurs’ manager before Bradley fired over when clear on goal, the ball hitting a clear bobble as Bradley pulled the trigger.

The lead was doubled on 34 minutes with Dyson getting his first of the game. Dyson first headed against the crossbar from Jake Chisholm’s cross but from the resulting clearance, Joe Andrews sent an excellent first time cross into the danger area and Dyson made no mistake second time around, stooping low to head home unmarked.

Spurs could have increased their lead with better finishing but Argyle fought back and Alex Wren’s snapshot from the edge of box called Rowland into action. Argyle’s best chance of the game came on 41 minutes when Roger Bonaparte scuffed a cross and Wren benefitted from a ricochet on the edge of the box to find himself one on one with Rowland but the Spurs keeper did well to save Wren’s effort.

Spurs added a third just before the break through Jake Chisholm, the energetic midfielder playing a neat one-two with Bradley before finding a way past Geering from an angle.

Despite Okehampton creating chances in the first half, most of the chances in the second half were for the home side as Argyle tired. Even then, Argyle were denied two strong penalty appeals when Voaden was brought down in the area after two great runs.

Dyson doubled his tally on 56 minutes, sliding in from close range after Bradley’s lay off. Geering, who had a good game between the sticks despite the scoreline, pulled off a good save from substitute Liam Price on 63 minutes to keep the scoreline down.

Another of Spurs substitutes was not to be denied from Geering on 68 minutes, Sam Hancox doing well to volley home at the back post from Chisholm’s deep cross just four minutes after coming on for Matthews.

Bradley and Hancox hit both posts within seconds of each other before another Geering save denied Hancox his second from close range.

Dyson sealed his third league hat-trick of the season with 11 minutes to go, slotting in from close range after Hancox had played his manager through.

If Argyle thought their afternoon could not get any worse, it did just one minute later. Bradley was left one on one with centre back James Williams. who missed his tackle and brought down the big Spurs’ striker in the box. The referee sent off Williams, a decision much disagreed with by the away side.

Bradley scored at the second time of asking after seeing his penalty saved by Geering. Hancox completed the scoring in injury time, with Dyson unselfishly squaring to the Spurs youngster to tap home into the empty net from close range as Argyle began to give up.

Alex Wren, Ross Voaden and Harry Geering were outstanding for Argyle on a day when lack of numbers in the squad really told.

Recent winners (all £25) in the Argyle 200 club draw are: February 7, ticket number 9, J Kearon; Feb 14, 60, Mrs E Beer; Feb 21, 15, D Weekes; Feb 28, 41, N Voaden.