Southern one

OKEHAMPTON FIRSTS 1

TORBAY 3

TORBAY provided the opposition for Okehampton firsts on a bright Saturday morning.

The home side missed a few key players and faced a tough battle against a Torbay side who moved the ball quickly and accurately around the pitch.

Oke started well with a positive press, intercepting the ball regularly but Torbay also began positively, playing the ball out from the back down the wing putting pressure on the Oke defence of Will Cooper, Simon Bourne, Rod Gers and Neil Rowlands.

Midway through the half, Oke conceded a short corner. Much to Okehampton’s dismay, Torbay slipped it underneath the keeper Hayden Bond to put the visitors 1-0 down.

Okehampton responded well by piling lots of pressure onto Torbay but missed several chances to get a shot away. Following, a great attacking run down the middle from Andrew Paterson, the ball was worked out to Bourne who made a sprightly run down the wing before offloading to Jack Watson. His initial shot was saved, but he made no mistake with the rebound smashing it into the goal. Torbay bounced straight back forcing a short corner. This went the same way as the first, putting Okehampton 2-1 down.

Okehampton began to force the game, and holding a strong press, forced mistakes from Torbay. Okehampton hemmed the visitors in their 25 and a great pass from Watson across the goal should have been converted but sadly the chance drifted wide. This was a turning point as Torbay then escaped from defence, forced the ball wide before converting a brilliant cross from the right-hand side with a tap in on the back post.