Petroc two

Exe ladies fifths 5

Okehampton ladies thirds 2

WITH several new faces in the side, it was always going to be hard for the visiting team to gel on their first match playing together but there were some good performances from the young players who joined the team.

Goalkeeper Sophie- May Luxton was called upon early on to make a number of assured saves as Exe exerted the early pressure.

However, Okehampton eventually got hold of the ball and won themselves a short corner which was well struck by Alex Collins to give them the lead. Exe soon equalised when the ball fell kindly to them in the circle and they went ahead a short while later.

With positive defending from the backs, Ligaya Coatham and Lois Rowlands - who put in some excellent tackles to keep the Exe wingers at bay - and Izzy Rowlands dominating in the centre back position, Okehampton began to regain control and looked threatening every time they came forward.

Emma Pike was increasingly finding space to turn and run into and the breakthrough for Okehampton came when Eleanor Marvin carried the ball down the left flank, crossing into the circle where it was picked up by Alex Collins, who cleverly reverse-sticked the ball round the defenders and the stretching goalkeeper into the corner of the net.

It was end to end hockey, with quick and intelligent passing between Oke’s Izzie Thomas and their player of the match, Alice Luke, making inroads on the right-hand side. Maddie Davison used her speed in the middle to chase down the ball and win back possession.

However, despite their efforts going forward and the good work of centre back Sandy Houston and Sophie-May, somehow the game ran away from the visitors and Exe won with a flattering scoreline that did not reflect the work and skills that visitors had contributed to the match.