Plymouth University A 3

OKEHAMPTON men's hockey team got back into the winning habit on Saturday with a gritty performance against a young university side.

Okehampton started slowly and were unable to benefit from the disorganisation of the University side.

Okehampton took the lead early on, when an accurately taken free hit gave Simon Garland room to flick past the keeper. University equalised from a short corner.

Okehampton played the ball around well but found the students hard to break down in defence. However, Simon Bourne burst through to score the second goal.

Again University came back to equalise from a short corner, which Keith Dennis was unable to save. He pulled off a superb save moments later — as the ball was flicked high to his left he palmed it around the post.

Early in the second half Okehampton again edged into the lead. Good work by the forwards put the students under pressure and Garland pulled the ball out of the melée and lifted it past the keeper.

Consolidation was now the key for Okehampton but University threw everything into attack. Okehampton rose to the challenge, Dave Dennis tackling well, and calmly kept the game under control.

As University put them under more pressure they won another short corner which they converted to level.

Okehampton responded by going for broke. They pushed forward and were rewarded when Phil Hampson found room to hammer home the winner.

This week Okehampton are again at home against Marjons on the college pitch.