Southern one

NORTH DEVON FIRSTS 2

OKEHAMPTON MEN FIRSTS 8

OKEHAMPTON went into their first game of the league season with confidence after a promising pre-season.

The game started slowly with Oke just keeping possession; after conceding an early goal Oke were back on the attack and Miller quickly levelled the game, beating numerous players and cracking the ball calmly from the top of the D into the corner of the goal.

Hall then stepped up for an Oke penalty corner and dispatched a drag flick into the top corner. Okehampton pressed on looking for a third. The ball went wide to Speak on the left, who played the ball to the ever industrious Morgan who slid in with a reverse sweep to put the ball beneath the keeper and into the goal.

Hard work from Oke forwards Speak, Bourne and France resulted in another short corner. Up stepped Hall who dispatched the ball into the top corner. The Oke back four of Cooper, Hall, Gers and Howard were solid and Morgan was next on the score sheet with another goal after a lovely ball played in from France. Then Luxton unleashed an unstoppable shot off the back foot.

Starting the second half, Okehampton looked to continue in the same style. After some good play down the middle, captain Miller found Oke veteran Andy Paterson who calmly slotted home.

North Devon then had a spell of possession, which led to a consolation goal, before Morgan completed his hat-trick to earn the man of the match award.