Carlsberg South West Peninsula league division one East

Okehampton Argyle 3

Stoke Gabriel 8

AGAINST high flying Stoke Gabriel on Saturday, a team that had beaten them 8-0 in the away fixture earlier this season, Argyle really competed and kept themselves in the game for the first 45 minutes.

However, in the second half, the power of Stoke's forward line became apparent and afforded them a comprehensive victory. Argyle gave the two Stoke wingers too much space all afternoon and the quality of these players constantly opened up Oke's defence and the usually reliable Argyle deputy keeper Ed Bradshaw also had an off-day.

Stoke took the lead after three minutes when a snap shot by Danny Gaze from a narrow angle beat Bradshaw low down to his right.

Just as Argyle started to get back into the game, a mistake by Jamie Palfreyman in midfield saw him play the ball direct to Stoke's Dean Stephens, who was left with just Bradshaw to beat which he did to increase the visitors' lead on 19 minutes.

To their credit, Argyle came back and only two minutes later, a lovely flicked on header by Steve Kinsey set Gary Hird free to run on and crash the ball home from the edge of the box.

Four minutes later, Okehampton were level when Stoke keeper Aplin threw the ball directly to John Wiseman, who cleverly curled the ball home from the edge of the area. However, this state of affairs only lasted two minutes as Stoke won a free kick wide on the right and Danny Gaze's effort went over Bradshaw's head and directly into the net.

On 30 minutes, Stoke's man of the match Jordan Hopkins once again got round the Oke defence wide on the right and crossed for Robbie Bowker to fire home from close range. A minute before the interval, Argyle gave themselves hope as Ed Squire set Gary Hird free on the right and he made no mistake as he fired home to reduce the arrears to 4-3 at half-time.

Argyle were full of hope playing down the slope after the interval and put some early pressure on the visitors' defence, but surprisingly changed their formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 by playing John Wiseman deeper which reduced their threat up front.

Stoke weathered the early pressure and then began to take control as their clever wingers created openings on the break. On the hour, Dean Stephens' cross was fired home by Dave Worthington and from then on, it became one-way traffic.

Tim Porter added the sixth goal when he noticed Bradshaw off his line and lobbed home from 30 yards, and then Dave Worthington grabbed his second of the game capitalising on a bad defensive error.

The scoring was completed 11 minutes from time when Hopkins fired home after a flick on from Worthington.

On the day, Argyle showed that their attack can trouble the best teams in the league, but this was a match the defence will want to forget.

Result of Argyle fivers club draw no.2: winner £250, Angela Drew, ticket number 59.