Okehampton 4

OKEHAMPTON bounced back from their poor showing last week by holding onto a hard fought victory against a good University side.

With Alex Osman and Zac Middleton standing in in defence the home side looked solid and comfortable in the opening ten minutes, with Oke's Luke Liversidge commanding his defenders well.

The hosts opened the scoring when Chris Luxton, who had a superb game, deflected a great pass from Sam Whalley into the goal.

Oke doubled their lead with just ten players with Luke Miller off receiving treatment.

Luxton won a short corner and Mark Parsons slotted the ball home from the edge of the area.

The home side took their foot off the gas and allowed the visitors back into the game when despite the exceptional keeping of Hayden Bond, a goalmouth scramble saw the away side score in from close range.

Oke rallied to counter and in four passes from defence scored - Liversidge found Josh Speak who fed Luxton and he swivelled and laid the ball for Parsons to slot home an open goal.

With five minutes of the half to go University won a succession of short corners but Bond was their to deny every attempt with some acrobatic saves.

The second half saw the away side miss a chance from a penalty stroke after Parsons, Luxton and Whalley and Simon Bourne had all missed for Oke.

The home side killed off Exeter University when the ever impressive Whalley swept his strike into the roof of the net after another great pass from Luxton.

The final ten minutes was made harder from the hosts when a second stroke was awarded and this time converted but Okehampton managed to hold on to victory mainly thanks to their inspirational goal keeper Bond.