Devon & Exeter Premier

Elmore 2

Okehampton Argyle 3

ARGYLE travelled to Tiverton on Saturday gunning for revenge after losing at home to Elmore earlier in the season.

On a wet and uneven surface not much football was expected, but both sides passed the ball well in the opening minutes. The home side made inroads down the right and on several occasions got behind Argyle's defence, but failed to convert the many chances they created.

Argyle, on their first attack forced a corner; they lost possession and Elmore counter-attacked with pace down the right. Argyle's defence was stretched and the ball was shipped into the box where the Elmore attack was left unmarked at the far post to slot the ball home.

Almost immediately Argyle got going and played pass and move football. Playing up the steep slope they moved the ball wide and quickly, stretching Elmore and forcing errors, pinning them back inside their own box.

Cann played a one-two with Mortimer and slid the ball under the keeper, only to see it rebound off the post.

Agnew, Maddax and Mortimer all had shots well saved by the keeper, with another Mortimer effort being cleared off the line.

From a long clearance by Bailey, Maddax somehow laid the ball in the path of Mortimer to run onto — he beat his marker to the ball and raced towards goal and as the keeper approached he chipped it over him only for it to rebound off the crossbar.

The equaliser came soon after when Cann chested the ball down and rifled his shot into the bottom corner for his third goal in as many games. This lifted Argyle and they scored two further goals in quick succession, from Maddax and Agnew.

Okehampton were now dominating, playing good football and forced Elmore to make a substitution after only 30 minutes. This seemed to stem Argyle's attacking play. On the stoke of half-time, Elmore had a chance to score but their attacker miss-hit his shot with the goal at his mercy.

Playing down the slope in the second period Argyle should have made the game safe but poor distribution and a lack of fight let Elmore back.

Bailey made an excellent save from a header and was called upon more to relieve the mounting pressure applied by Elmore.

Elmore created an opening but an excellent last-minute tackle by Gill denied them. But they had the ball in the net soon after when Argyle failed to clear the ball and a goalmouth scramble followed which saw it just cross the line

Yip was replaced by N Vernon on the right in an attempt to stem the flow of attacks. Good work by Soby, M Vernon and Gill in defence, frustrated Elmore.

K Gill had to come off due to a pulled hamstring, with Gibbs slotting in as a replacement. Carey and Cann had Argyle's only chances in a poor second period but both their shots were off target.

Okehampton had to endure some frantic moments in the dying minutes but held out for all three points. After the game, Argyle were told that the three substitutes used by Elmore were first team players, whose game had been cancelled, which made the victory that much sweeter.

This week Argyle entertain Newton St Cyres at home, kick-off 2.30pm.