Devon & Exeter Senior 1 League Newtown 2 Okehampton 1st 3 OKEHAMPTON played this game with real determination and a great team spirit. Considering Newtown are one of the few teams to have beaten Okehampton this season in the East Devon Cup, securing the three points and remaining unbeaten in the league was a great achievement. With the early exchanges even and both sides testing each other out it was Newtown that took the lead on 20 minutes with a scrambled goal in the six-yard box. Okehampton responded well and it was only a matter of time before Adam Mortimore pounced an a loose ball in the Newtown area and slotted it past the keeper. Newtown pressed hard but the defence of Michael Vernon, Graham Soby, James Williams and Mathew Mortimore kept a good high line and consistently caught Newtown off side. When they did manage to break through they found Okehampton?s keeper Daniel Malcolm mopping up any half chances and clearing his lines well. Just before the interval Okehampton took the lead when a good move involving several players ended with Steve Williams scoring. The second half started at a really fast pace. Okehampton continued to play the better football and this was thanks to some good refereeing decisions that saw several Newtown players cautioned. The Okehampton midfield created a number of chances that were not taken until the 75th minute when Steve Williams picked up the ball in the Newtown area and slammed it into the top corner. Newtown scored in the last few minutes but Okehampton held on for a deserved win. They will be glad there is no fixture this week, hopefully allowing some injured players the time to recover ? only to face Newtown at Simmons Park on Saturday January 28.
