South West Peninsula League division one East

Appledore 1

Okehampton Argyle 2

THIS was a great performance from Okehampton who were missing five first team regulars and had to play with a squad of only 12 players.

Joint manager Stuart Cann was forced to play in defence and Jonjo Fellows and Ollie Bedford made their first full appearances of the season in the Peninsula League.

The whole team gave a superb 'backs-to-the-wall' performance, defending courageously all afternoon and always threatening Appledore on the break.

Argyle shook their hosts after only three minutes when a well-worked move down the right resulted in a corner to the visitors. Fellows floated in a lovely cross which found Matt Mortimer at the far post and he headed home decisively.

Appledore came back strongly and pinned Okehampton in their own half for long periods. They came close when Hevingham hit the post and two efforts were brilliantly cleared off the line by Argyle defenders.

Okehampton goalkeeper Harry Geering had an inspired day and made a series of fine saves in particular from Polhill and Skinner, and was unfortunate when, in first half stoppage time, Polhill's cross took a deflection and bounced over the keeper to level the scores.

The second half saw Okehampton once again having to defend in depth as Appledore surged forward. Geering kept Argyle in the match with a superb double save, first blocking Hevingham's shot with his legs and then pushing away Stevens' follow up shot.

With 14 minutes left, Okehampton snatched all three points, with a brilliant break out of defence. Ed Squires' perfectly weighted pass sent Adam Mortimer racing clear, and he cut in from the right and fired home an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net.

Five minutes later, it could have been three, as Adam Mortimer robbed an Appledore defender and raced clear only to see the home keeper smother the ball at his feet.

Every member of the team deserves credit for this fighting performance, showing true 'Dunkirk spirit', but man of the match honours must go to keeper Harry Geering, who had an outstanding game.

• On Saturday Okehampton Argyle are away to Ottery St Mary in the South West Peninsula League, kick-off 3pm.