Devon Premier Cup third round

Kingsteignton Athletic 3

Okehampton Argyle 1

THIS was a disappointing result for Argyle as for the second year running they were eliminated from this competition by a team from a lower league.

Okehampton's last chance of any silverware this season disappeared with this result, and they must now concentrate their efforts on moving away from the lower reaches of the Peninsula League.

It was always going to be a difficult day to play football on a greasy, slippery surface and it was likely that defensive errors would lead to goals.

Argyle played some good technical football up to the edge of the box, but Kingsteignton were more direct and in the end the difference between the two sides was their striker Gareth Law who scored a hat- trick.

Kingsteignton were gifted the lead after five minutes when with no danger, Mark Burdus threw the ball in across his own defensive line to Tom Reilly. With the difficult conditions, Reilly slipped and fell and Law nipped in to fire home for Kingsteignton.

Argyle came back and controlled the game for the last 20 minutes of the half and equalised six minutes before the break with a well-taken goal from Matt Mortimer, who ran onto a beautifully weighted pass from Steve Kinsey.

The second half continued with Okehampton showing good approach work up to the edge of the box but they always looking vulnerable to a quick counter-attack with insufficient cover at the back.

Kingsteignton struck the Argyle bar early in the second half, but the visitors replied and hit the home side's post soon afterwards.

However, Law added his second with a well taken shot from 18 yards on 62 minutes with the Okehampton defence completely open to a quick thrust from their opponents.

Six minutes from time, Law completed his hat-trick with a low shot from the edge of the box after Argyle had committed themselves too far forward and left themselves with only two men at the back.

To their credit, Argyle fought to the last and Matt Mortimer was desperately unlucky to see his fierce shot rebound off the post after a beautiful interchange of passes in the Argyle midfield. All in all though, this is a day best forgotten for Argyle.

l Next Saturday Okehampton are away to Crediton United in the South West Peninsula League – kick-off 3pm.