Devon & Exeter Senior 1 League Clyst Valley 2 Okehampton 1st 4 CLYST Valley agreed to switch venues for this match, in the hope that they would take the points and reduce the gap at the top of the league to just one point, but it was Okehampton that adapted better to the terrible conditions. With lots of surface water in the middle of the pitch, Okehampton made full use of the wide players with Paul Yip on the right side playing in Adam Mortimore to score with 20 minutes on the clock. Clyst Valley came back at Okehampton. Their very young side tried tirelessly to break down the Okehampton defence but with Michael Vernon outstanding in the centre of defence and supported well by James Williams, Chris Wills and Kevin Gill Clyst found this difficult. It was Okehampton that scored the second on 40 minutes when Adam Mortimore found Robert Sandercock cutting in from the left wing and placing his shot wide of the keeper. Back came Clyst again and this time they did score just before the interval. Just before the second half was due to start, the rain, which did not stop during the first half, eased and with the pitch breaking up it was Okehampton that managed to increase their lead when Adam Mortimore was brought down inside the area and James Williams scored from the penalty. Young Mathew King and Phillip Evans were outstanding in the centre of the Okehampton mid-field, where the conditions were very difficult. Credit must go to the referee for keeping the game flowing and appreciating that fouls would be committed on this sort of surface. Clyst Valley kept battling and were rewarded with a second goal on 68 minutes. With both sides making some substitutions it was Clyst that created the better chances, only to be denied by some good handling by Daniel Malcolm in the Okehampton goal. As the game moved into the last 15 minutes down came the rain again. With everyone slipping and sliding it was Adam Mortimore that kept his feet to beat the off side trap and rounded the Clyst keeper to score Okehampton?s fourth goal. This much-deserved result gives Okehampton a seven-point lead at the top of the league. Okehampton play Clyst again on Saturday December 10 at Simmons Park in the Devon Senior Cup, kick off at 2pm.
