Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Okehampton Argyle 0

Exmouth Town 1

THIS was a match where something had to give. Exmouth Town are sitting top of the league table undefeated both home and away this season and are still undefeated in the Devon Premier Cup and Throgmorton Cup, while Argyle were undefeated at home in the league this season.

Okehampton were missing the influential midfielder Toby Gostling in midfield, but the whole squad gave everything they had and took this game to the wire. In the end, they were pipped by the odd goal by a very well organised Exmouth team.

Exmouth took the initiative from the kick-off and pushed Argyle back, but the back four of Dave Smith, Chris Wills, Dale Chadwick and Alex Wren were uncompromising and held firm. In midfield, Ed Squire, Jake Batizovzsky, Rob Clarke and Luke Alden all worked really hard and tackled back to help the defence out, but were unable to produce much in the way of opportunities for Argyle's front runners of Brad Ausden and Ed Bradshaw.

Exmouth double marked Alden to try and stifle his attacking midfield play and were also fast to harry at every opportunity, leaving Argyle with no time to dwell on the ball forcing them into hurried passes.

The deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Exmouth pulled the Argyle defence out of position and Lloyd Gardner released Matt Dawson in the box to fire past Craig Mulholland from 15 yards.

As usual, Argyle worked tremendously hard to try to get back into the game, but it was Exmouth who enjoyed the majority of possession and the home side continued to defend resolutely to keep the score at 1-0 at half-time.

Okehampton started the second half in much better attacking form and for 20 minutes put Exmouth on the rack. A direct free kick from Batizovzsky was spilled by the Exmouth keeper and Ed Squire, appeared to be pulled down as he went for the loose ball, but his claim was turned down by the referee,

Exmouth began to settle again and the game ended with both sides battling hard in midfield but generally with defences on top.

Argyle manager Stuart Cann shuffled his pack and brought on substitutes Steve Madge, Fraser Bricknell, and defender Matt Mortimer in the unaccustomed position of centre forward, but Argyle still could not find the equaliser.

The visitors came close with a shot that brushed the top of Craig Mulholland's bar while at the other end Bricknell's shot-cum cross hit the Exmouth bar.

Argyle's whole squad once again showed tremendous team spirit and work ethic and there was no lack of the effort. Chris Wills had an outstanding game at the back for Argyle and Jake Batizovzsky was the pick of a hard working midfield, but in the end Argyle had to give best to a very good Exmouth side.