Devon & Exeter Premier

Hatherleigh 1

Okehampton Argyle 2

Argyle continued their fight against relegation with this victory over near neighbours Hatherleigh although they had to wait until the 90th minute to clinch all three points.

Substitute Adrian Margrie came off the bench to rifle home after Hatherleigh only half cleared following an attack down the right.

Hatherleigh created the first opening in the tenth minute when the Argyle defence got dragged to the right to leave Jamie Halpin in space, but he shot wide of the onrushing Richard Bailey's right-hand post.

Hatherleigh, enjoying the lion's share of the play at this stage, opened the scoring in the 20th minute when Andy Harnell punished a dithering defence to place the ball wide of Bailey's left hand.

Okehampton gradually got back into the game but were limited to long range efforts from Drew and Agnew. Ian Gill and Mortimer were lively up front but at times the support was slow in arriving and the attacks were snubbed out.

Argyle drew level in the first minute of injury time at the end of the half when Hatherleigh failed to deal with a corner. After a scramble, Mortimer guided the ball home.

The second period began with Okehampton holding the upper hand as it seemed the late goal had taken some of the wind out of Hatherleigh. Okehampton thought they had taken the lead on the hour when Gill got in front of his marker to head home a free kick only for it to be ruled out for an infringement by Mortimer. Gill again had the ball in the net ten minutes later but again the effort was ruled out, this time for a push from Gill.

The game became more scrappy as the pressure mounted. Chances were squandered at either end although none of them were clear cut. In the 85th minute it was Hatherleigh's turn to have a goal disallowed. Following a corner Bailey was impeded before the ball was swept home. The game seemed to be heading for a certain draw before Margrie's late intervention. Argyle manager Pete Gross, said: 'That is the sort of performance we need every week now. I cannot fault the players' commitment and although there was certainly a lack of flowing football, at this stage in the season it is all about grinding out results.'

This week Argyle have no fixture and their next game is St Martin's at home, kick-off 3pm.

Hatherleigh are away to Exeter Civil Service this week.