Devon & Exeter Intermediate 4
Uplowman 4
Okehampton Argyle Thirds 2(aet)
OKEHAMPTON travelled to top of the league Uplowman determined to improve on last week?s performance.
Argyle took the game to them from the whistle. Unfortunately a little defensive miscue resulted in an early goal for Uplowman.
Argyle showed great spirit and kept the ball in the opposition?s half. With eleven minutes played, Steve Kinsey pulled the ball back behind the Uplowman defence and passed to Alan Stepto who shot the ball home from the edge of the area for a well deserved equaliser.
Phil Evans had an excellent game, leading the attack and was well supported by Stepto and Shane Monnox. Billy Spence really got into the game after a quiet start.
Taking heed of the warning at half-time the Argyle defence was ready for the tactical changes that a frustrated Uplowman were forced to make. Their main striker was forced to run the line of Argyle?s defence, looking for the weak spot. Rhys Morgan, Scott Hooper, Richard Eddy and Monnox were more than a match for him and once Hooper was pushed forward and Stepto returned to the defence, he played little further part in their attacking moves.
Griffiths? goal-line clearance and excellent saves from Jon Carter added to a strong defensive performance.
Against the run of play Uplowman scored a second, floating a high cross into the box and catching Carter off guard. Within a minute Spence equalised with a sweetly struck left-foot shot. Okehampton went looking for the victory and came close to scoring on several occasions.
The turning point came when Kinsey took an awkward fall and was substituted. Okehampton conceded from a corner with 86 minutes played, and again during extra time.
Man of the match: Alan Stepto.
This Saturday, Motel Rangers at home 2.30pm kick-off.