Southern one

Okehampton firsts 2

Plymouth Marjon B 2

OKEHAMPTON faced Plymouth Marjon B in the first league game of the season.

It was a cagey start to the game from both teams with not much creativity from either side with Okehampton playing a high press game and Marjon unable to get the ball out of their half through the disciplined formation.

Okehampton were a few key players short but both Ed Howard and George Morgan slotted into the midfield to cover. It was not until midway through the first half that against the run of play, Marjon conjured up a few breaks and eventually won a penalty corner. From the corner they slotted home a delightful flick to take the lead.

The home side did not panic and kept working hard with skipper Luke Liversidge keeping the disciplined high press working as hard as they could.

Okehampton found it difficult to penetrate the opposition’s D and when they did, the attack tended to fade. Not until the end of the first half were they able to win a penalty corner. From the corner Luke Liversidge was able to get a shot on target and hit a foot of the defender after a deflection from the keeper. The umpire awarded a penalty flick and as the ball was heading goalwards Liversidge slotted the equaliser home to make it all square at half time.

The second half was much the same with the home side in the ascendancy and the opposition lacking in creativity.

Will Cooper playing central defender for Oke bossed it at the back and his distribution was key in moving forward out of defence. He was supported superbly by Simon Bourne and Neil Rowlands in the half back positions.

As in the first half Marjon made the odd break and after a spell off pressure and several penalty corners they were able to convert one taking the lead again.

This resulted in Okehampton pressing a little higher and with the game opening up the longer it went on more opportunities resulted at both ends. Although they struggled to get any payout from entering the opposition’s D the home side finally made a break through with Ed Howard slotting home a rebound of the keeper to equalise. Both sides were now tiring and with neither defences taking any risks the game was slowly heading towards a draw.

With seconds on the clock man of the match Paterson received the ball in the midfield and after a run into the D won a penalty corner as the final whistle was blown. With the whole team forward to try and seal the victory the penalty corner was defended well to end the game. The score was a fair reflection on the game.