Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Sidmouth Town 2

Okehampton Argyle 2

ARGYLE bounced back to form at Sidmouth and will be disappointed at not taking all three points.

Okehampton were missing the suspended Ed Squire and unavailable Alex Wren, Chris Wills and Craig Mulholland but the rearranged team put in a tremendous effort and had a slight edge on their hosts throughout. Keeper Matt McDonough, making his first team debut this season, showed a safe pair of hands throughout. The back four of Matt Mortimer, Tom McGratton, James Williams and Chris Hollands looked far more solid than any other combination tried this season.

The game began with both teams playing hard competitive midfield football, playing balls into space in the corners for their forwards to run onto. There was little to choose between the teams early on, but on 29 minutes, Argyle took the lead when Matt Mortimer's pin-point cross was headed home at the near post by the ever alert John Coakley.

The visitors began to get on top. A tremendous 30 yard free kick from Brad Ausden was brilliantly pushed away by Sidmouth keeper Luke Ashford who then did superbly to block Dale Chadwick's follow-up effort.

Four minutes before half-time, Okehampton were caught with too many men forward and a long through ball out of defence split defenders Williams and McGratton for Andy Isaacs to run clean through and score from the edge of the box to level the match.

Sidmouth pressed Argyle back at the start of the second half but Argyle rode this out and began to take control again. With 20 minutes remaining Argyle built a good attack down the right which resulted in a shot being scrambled away, only to reach Steve Kinsey who fired home a tremendous 25 yard shot to restore Argyle's lead. Oke brought on substitutes Ollie Crimmins and new signing Gary Hird at this stage. It almost paid off immediately as Coakley and Hird combined on the right before Hird saw his header rebound off the inside of the post into the hands of a relieved Ashford in the Sidmouth goal.

With 15 minutes to go Argyle keeper McDonough left the field with a knee injury and striker Ed Bradshaw had to come off the bench to take over goalie duties.

He put in a tremendous performance as Sidmouth threw everything at the Argyle defence. Right on the 90th minute, Sidmouth equalised when a shot from Tony Cox deflected off one of his own attackers and into the net giving Bradshaw no chance. There was only time for Argyle to kick off before the referee blew his whistle.

This was a good overall team performance by Argyle but players to catch the eye on the day were Matt Mortimer in defence, Jake Batizovzsky in midfield and Steve Madge up front.