Devon Premier Cup

Okehampton Argyle 2

Budleigh Salterton 4

(after extra time)

OKEHAMPTON bowed out of the Devon Premier Cup after a hard fought 120 minutes at Simmons Park.

While on the balance of play Budleigh deserved their victory, the key decisions in the game went against the home side and most certainly had a bearing on the outcome.

Budleigh had started brightly and already taken a fifth minute lead when Roger Bonaparte played in Adam Mortimer in the 12th minute.

Mortimer rounded the keeper and was about to score when he was tripped from behind: Ed Squire duly dispatched the resulting spot kick.

Three minutes later and Argyle were in front when Tallan Burns sent Mortimer clear again and this time he coolly slotted past the advancing Budleigh keeper.

Argyle spent the remainder of the half defending their advantage and Aaron Dearing pulled off two fine saves to keep their slender lead intact. Then on the stroke of half time Budleigh deservedly equalised to take the teams in level at the break.

Budleigh continued to dominate possession at the start of the second half. Okehampton thought they had retaken the lead on the hour when Adam Mortimer's header appeared to be at least a yard over the line before it was cleared, but inexplicably the referee, who was well placed, ruled otherwise.

Budleigh almost clinched the tie in the final minute but Danny Williams' shot was well saved by Dearing which meant 30 minutes of extra time.

Midway through the first period of extra time Argyle claimed to have had another penalty when Adam Mortimer was alleged to be shoved in the back as he was just about to score, but the referee waved play on. Right on the stroke of half time in extra time, Budleigh got the decisive goal when Jack Greenslade steered a near post header past Dearing.

As Argyle pressed for an equaliser, it was Budleigh who looked like scoring again and they killed the tie in the final minute of extra time when Danny Williams' exquisite lob eluded Dearing at his far post.

Having beaten Budleigh in the league a month earlier, this was a disappointing result for Oke, but manager Kevin Taylor was left to reflect on the continued absence and unavailability of players which is affecting his preparation and team selection each week.

n Argyle are away to Sticker on Saturday in the second round of the Walter C Parsons League Cup.

n It was not all gloom and doom in the cup for Okehampton Argyle at the weekend as the seconds pulled of a giant killing with a fine 3-2 win against Cullompton Rangers seconds in the Devon Senior Cup. This was courtesy of a double from top scorer Ross Voaden and another from midfielder Jonjo Fellows.