Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Exeter Civil Service 2

Okehampton Argyle 2

ARGYLE once again showed tremendous team spirit and bravery to twice come from behind and salvage a draw against lowly Civil Service at Foxhayes in Exeter.

Civil are a much better team than their league position suggests and have signed several new players in recent weeks to strengthen their squad. This was a feisty affair and there is certainly no love lost between these two sides, but Argyle will be disappointed with not taking all three points after a dominant second half performance that saw them continually push Civil back into their own half.

Argyle took time to settle and it was Civil who took the early initiative. The game was only a few minutes old when a deep right wing cross was headed powerfully towards the Okehampton goal from only three yards. This effort had goal written all over it but somehow Harry Geering performed acrobatics to claw the effort out from under the crossbar for a brilliant save.

Okehampton struggled to play the final pass accurately on their attacks and Civil looked the more dangerous at this stage of an even game and on 21 minutes took the lead when Burwood's free kick was headed home by Shaun Densham. Argyle certainly did their utmost to get back but the game reached the interval with no further score.

Argyle had by far the better of the second half and equalised after 65 minutes. Dave Youlden played a lovely cross ball to Luke Alden on the left of the Civil box and Alden brought the ball down and superbly beat two players before firing past the Civil keeper from 18 yards. Eleven minutes later, Okehampton missed a golden opportunity to put the game to bed. Will Hawking was pulled down in the area and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. However Civil keeper Paul Gibbon pulled off a fine save from James Williams' spot kick. The home side immediately broke out of defence from this save and a deep cross caused trouble in the Argyle defence as players raced back and Shaun Densham was able to fire home his second goal giving Geering no chance.

Argyle brought on Steve Madge and Ed Squire and this immediately reaped rewards. With ten minutes left, Alden picked up the ball 30 yards out and unleashed a fierce shot which Gibbon could not hold. The ball broke lose to Will Hawking who fired home from a narrow angle.

Okehampton management gambled to secure all three points a midfielder was sacrificed for another forward and Adam Mortimer returned to action after a long lay-off due to injury. Argyle continually pushed Civil back until the final whistle but that much needed goal just would not come.

All squad members of gave 100% but this week special mention must go to full back Phil Adams, who played superbly on his first team debut, and central defender Dale Chadwick.

Okehampton still remain top of the table.

n This Saturday in the league Argyle are away to Appledore, kick-off 2.15pm. In the Devon and Exeter division four Argyle Reserves are at home to Crediton Utd Res, kick-off 2.15pm

n Argyle 200 club winners for October 1, £25, number 45 K Sage, £10, 40 B Stripley; October 8, £25, 97 C Bond, £10, 58 C Beer; October 15, £25, 194, J Westlake, £10, 11, T Kingman; October 22, £25, 9, J Kegron, £10, 90, R Halliday; October 29, £25, 11, T Kingman, £10, 183, M Wooldridge.