Devon & Exeter League Premier Division Sidmouth 2 Okehampton Argyle 3 OKEHAMPTON deserved to come away from mid-table Sidmouth with all three points, even if it was only for the never-say-die attitude adopted by the whole team throughout the match, which swung one way and then the other, leaving the final outcome in doubt right to the end. Argyle very nearly scored straight from the kick-off. Kevin Gill, back in the side after an absence of three months with an ankle injury, made a fine break down the left flank and his cross found Steve Kinsey unmarked just inside the box. His snap shot was blocked by the keeper?s outstretched leg and cleared out of the danger area. The next 25 minutes were fairly evenly contested with perhaps Sidmouth just having the edge. This advantage was turned into a goal when, after a break down the right, a cross into the box was turned in from close range by Chris Duchenski to put the home side ahead. Argyle fought back to level the score ten minutes later from a similar move. Robbie Sandercock ran down the right, before passing inside to Phil Evans, whose first shot was blocked by the keeper, but the rebound slammed into the net from an acute angle by the persistent Evans. Argyle went into the lead five minutes into the second half following another break from Sandercock. His cross into the goalmouth was stabbed in from close range by Mark Burdus. It was now Argyle?s turn to defend their slender lead, with Mike Vernon and Nick Drew getting through a tremendous amount of work in midfield, ably supported by Wells, Williams and Gill at the back. With ten minutes left all Argyle?s hard work went down the pan when Chris Duchenski broke through to score his second goal for Sidmouth. For a while it looked quite likely that Sidmouth might go on to score again and win the match, but for once luck was with Okehampton. With just a couple of minutes left a long throw in from Mark Burdus deceived the Sidmouth centre half who missed the ball, letting it drop at the feet of Steve Kinsey who poked it under the diving keeper. Argyle managed to play out the remaining few minutes to secure the three points but several more results like this one are needed to take them out of trouble. This week Argyle are at home to Hatherleigh in the East Devon Senior Cup, kick-off 2.30pm.
