Okehampton A played their first game of the new season travelling to face local rivals Tavistock B. This would be the first time against each other since March 2009 after Okehampton was transferred to the East division leagues.

This was a much changed Okehampton squad with only four members of the squad who played the last match of the previous season with Ed Howard, Luke Liversidge, Will Cooper, Josh Balsdon and Lewis Day all making their Oke senior debuts.

After a nervous opening five minutes Okehampton to dominate play with midfielders Luke Miller, Jake Lloyd and Chris Searle passing the ball around well and spent most of the half in the final 25. A series of short corners followed but some good saves from the in form Tavistock goalkeeper and last ditch defending kept Oke from breaking the dead lock.

Pushing up left Okehampton vulnerable for the Tavistock break but good defending from Ian Miller, Luke Liversidge, Tim Morgan and keeper Pete Sim prevented Tavistock from taking the lead.

The first half finished 0-0 and the second half continued the same as the first but with more great saves from Tavistock keeper Osborne, who must have taken man of the match honours for a string of breath-taking saves, however, even the Tavistock number one could not prevent Okehampton from scoring twice with Alex Emuss who reacted to a rebound to score a simple tap in. This opened the game up with both teams tiring from the heat but a fitter Okehampton side proved their dominance with Josh Balsdon, Emuss, Adam Cockanye piling the pressure onto the hosts back line before Lloyd made a defence splitting pass leaving Balsdon free to drive the ball low and hard doubling Okehampton's lead. Tavistock's Nick Bradley did well in midfield alongside brothers Dominic and Sam Stanbury, who worked their socks off — Nick Andrews' eagerly anticipated return to the forward line should produce goals.

Tavistock also saw outstanding pre-season performances from Mark Tosdevin and Paul Mason, but by full time, Okehampton had the edge over Tavistock to finish 2-0.

n This Saturday Okehampton travel to Ottery St Mary to face Ottery Crickets with a 3.30pm push off.