Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Okehampton Argyle 6

Crediton Utd 1

ARGYLE gained a sweet victory last Tuesday against neighbours Crediton in this entertaining local derby. Both sides had players missing through injuries and unavailability but this didn't detract from the standard of football served up for a crowd of 96 — Okehampton's biggest home gate of the season.

Play was even for the first ten minutes but then Argyle's power in midfield began to show up. After 17 minutes, captain James Williams swung in a lovely ball from the left and Frankie Nomah-Koneh rifled the ball into the roof of the Crediton net to give Okehampton the lead. The game was really put to bed by the home side in a tremendous ten-minute spell leading up to the half-time break.

On 38 minutes, Steve Williams used his speed to break through on the visitor's left. His first effort was pushed out by Crediton keeper Fred Tonkin, but Williams turned and despatched the loose ball into the visitor's net with a superb overhead kick. Five minutes later man of the match Ed Squire finished off a good move with a firm shot from close in, and a minute later the same player fired home a fourth goal from the edge of the box.

In the second half Argyle brought on three young substitutes Sam Appleby, Chris Hollands and Ricky Wooldridge. They slotted into the team well and it was Wooldridge who on 65 minutes increased Argyle's lead with a fine lob over Tonkin.

Crediton fought back and enjoyed a period of dominance, getting their just reward when substitute Dean Jones blasted home a great goal from the edge of the box giving Harry Geering in the home goal no chance. This seemed to motivate Okehampton again and with seconds remaining, Chris Hollands made the score 6-1 with a well judged shot from thirty yards catching Tonkin off his line.

Okehampton Argyle 3

Bickleigh 1

ARGYLE'S recent run of success continued against bottom of the table Bickleigh and they have now taken 13 points from their last five games. However, neither side was able to find any rhythm or control on a hard surface that was dry and dusty. While chances fell to both teams a combination of poor finishing, the woodwork and some excellent saves from both keepers kept the game goalless for the first hour.

Frankie Nomah-Koneh, usually clinical in front of goal for Argyle, had seen two opportunistic lobs go the wrong side of the upright. Ed Squires had a fierce 30 yard shot well saved by Ben Mercy in the Bickleigh goal and Harry Geering in the Argyle goal was kept busy by some lively play from the Bickleigh forwards and saved well low to his left.

With the game desperately in need of a goal it was Argyle's busy midfielder and captain James Williams who obliged on the hour when he slipped the defence to score cleverly through the goalkeeper's legs.

The goal served to increase the tempo of the match and Bickleigh pushed forward and deservedly levelled 10 minutes later when Keiran Kapo made space for himself on the right and drilled a left foot shot low into the corner of the net.

However this would turn out to be Bickleigh's final flourish and two minutes later Matt Mortimer restored Argyle's lead with a powerful header from a corner. Oke then dominated proceedings and played some attractive football. Williams and Squires were in control in midfield and provided several telling passes that caused problems in the visitors defence. Ten minutes from time Steve Kinsey crossed from the left and Darren Prouse volleyed into the roof of the net to make it 3-1.

Okehampton Argyle 2

Royal Marines 3

TITLE favourites Royal Marines were given a bit of a scare against a plucky Okehampton side.

The first half was fairly even but it was the Royal Marines who took the lead five minutes before half time, when Richard Hope slotted the ball past Gearing, after a fine run by Saunders. Darren Prouse came closest for Argyle in the first half,when his lob from the edge of the box went just over the bar. Argyle took only five minutes to get back into the match after the interval. Wooldridge's well struck volley flew into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

Two minutes later Steve Williams gave Argyle the lead,after some fine work by Ed Squires.

Argyle hung on to their lead, but with ten minutes remaining Dibling levelled from close range. Soon after Hope scored his second goal of the game for the visitors, making sure they stayed on course for the title.