Southern oneOkehampton firsts 5Tavistock firsts 1A RAMPANT Okehampton side put five goals past Tavistock in a hotly contested local derby. 

Tavistock started strongly with the majority of possession in the first quarter of the game but Okehampton held their structure firm with some great defending from Will Cooper, Rob Hall, Rod Gers and Simon Bourne.

After 20 minutes the away side took the lead, hitting the ball through the home keeper’s legs. This gave Oke some incentive and the home side started playing some lovely hockey dispatching the ball wide to wingers Josh Speak and Jack Watson, who created chances, but Oke could not find the finishing touch.

The second half started as the first ended, Okehampton pushing hard and putting pressure on the Tavistock defence. Jack Watson for Oke pounced on a stray pass, beat the defender, drove into the D and slotted the ball under the keeper to find Reuben Bourne on the back post.

After this goal Okehampton kept up the pressure and not long after, a shot from Jonathon Stephens rebounded back to Ed Howard, who flicked it over the keeper. Now a goal behind, Tavistock restarted with more intensity, but endless work from the Oke midfield duo of Stephens and Howard kept them at bay.

With a quick counter attack Josh Speak won a short corner; Rob Hall despatched it with a precise drag flick into the goal. Okehampton then started playing free, enjoyable hockey creating more chances for their forward players. Strong tackling from Neil Rowlands released captain Luke Liversidge who beat his player and reversed the ball at pace into the heart of the Tavistock D where Reuben Bourne was running in and with a sublime deflection the ball was smashing the back board. It was 4-1 with 10 minutes to go.

Okehampton were not finished yet, another short corner was won by the home side; the Tavistock keeper saved the first attempted drag flick but Rod Gers was lurking on the post; he pounced on the high flying ball, knocking it into the goal.

Okehampton men are away on Saturday to Sidmouth and Ottery, while on the same day Tavistock host Plymouth Marjon.