Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Brixham AFC 2

Okehampton Argyle 1

ONCE again Argyle went into a game bereft of a host of first team regulars due to injuries, suspensions and unavailability and had to employ veteran striker Roger Bonaparte as an emergency centre half.

Young keeper Aaron Dearing and Steve Madge, who had both successfully stepped up from the second team in the win against Totnes and Dartington last time out, retained their place on merit. Argyle welcomed back leading scorer Jason Cordice, but made the trip to Wall Park Road with only one substitute.

Brixham started brightly without creating any worthwhile goal scoring opportunities and slowly but surely Argyle's patched up side got a foothold. It was Jason Cordice who opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he seized upon a loose ball inside the Brixham penalty area and finished coolly from close range.

It seemed as though Argyle's small band of supporters had lit a flare in celebration at taking the lead as the pitch became enveloped in a cloud of smoke; it was in fact a bonfire from the neighbouring allotments!

Aaron Dearing made a couple of smart saves and dealt with a series of corners as Argyle held onto their lead until the 40th minute when Brixham drew level after Stewart Bowker's corner was headed clear by Ed Squire, only for Brixham's Matt Constable to hook the ball back into the penalty area where Luke Chittenden was on hand to nod the ball home through a crowd of players on the goal line.

At 1-1 at the break, the teams came out amid another wave of smoke as a second bonfire was taking hold from the allotments and for the opening 10 minutes of the second half this was the height of the excitement.

As the half wore on it was becoming a stalemate with few chances at either end although Aaron Dearing made another save from Brixham's Stewart Bowker and Argyle had Oli Crimmins to thank for a goal line clearance following a corner.

Argyle then had a spell of pressure with Brad Ausden and Ed Squire both having shots saved by the feet of the Brixham keeper but the visitors were caught on the break in the 70th minute when Corey Burns lost possession on the edge of the Brixham penalty area and the ball was knocked long to Stewart Bowker who was through on goal.

Argyle's Roger Bonaparte upended a Brixham striker in the box and the latter picked himself up to fire home the resultant spot kick.

Aaron Dearing made a great save from a Bowker free kick to prevent the hosts increasing their lead and with time running out Argyle manager Kevin Taylor switched to three at the back in search of an equaliser.

In a frantic final few minutes Oli Crimmins was unlucky to see his goal bound effort blocked on the line, but despite laying siege on the Brixham goal, Argyle's brave effort to find the goal that would have given them a share of the spoils came up short.