Taunton Civil Service 2

OKEHAMPTON travelled to Taunton knowing that their South East division two survival hinged on getting at least from points from the next two games.

The away side started the stronger with Jake Lloyd hitting the post in the first minute. Oke had the better of the first half chances. Jake Lloyd played in Chris Luxton who drew the keeper but was unable to convert.  Captain Brett Lawson and Sam Whalley  were industrious in midfield with Tim Morgan at centre half stifling the  Taunton play makers.

Stuart Jarvis playing on the right wing provided great crosses for the Oke forwards.

As the first half came to a close Oke took the lead via Jake Lloyd who cooly placed the ball into the Taunton net following a well worked short corner.

The second half began with Oke creating the better chances, Jack Watson was unlucky not to score when he broke into the D although it took 3 Taunton players to stop him. Defenders John Jarvis and Alex Osman both had fine games at the back and along side Zac Middleton and man of the match Scott  Bending kept any Taunton chances to long shots.

Oke went two up when Whalley found Watson whose touch fell kindly to Luxton; he took on the Taunton defender and then goal keeper,  played the ball across the open net only for a Taunton player turn the ball into his own goal.

Confusion rained when a free hit to Okehampton  was taken by a Taunton player,  as half of the players stopped for the retake Taunton were awarded a penalty corner and the home side made it 1-2.

The Oke confidence disappeared   with the disappointment of conceding  such a strange goal. However they regrouped and Stuart Jarvis flashed a shot just wide. Sam Whalley also then saw his attempt go the wrong side of the Taunton post. Keeper Hayden Bond  tipped the ball round the post from a good Taunton attack.  Another short corner awarded to the home side saw Taunton level the game with only ten minutes left to play.

Still Okehampton threatened, Lawson made the Taunton keeper pull of a fine save and then Luxton hit the post after great work by the versatile Simon Bourne.

As the seconds ticked away Whalley found Luxton who's first time shot was stopped right on the line by the Taunton keeper! 

The draw was a good result for the Oke team. In Okehampton's home game against West Dorset next week only a win will see these two side swap places in the league, and the loser will be relegated!