Devon women’s league

Okehampton Argyle Ladies 1

Brixham Villa Ladies 0

THE sun shone brightly on Sunday afternoon as Okehampton Argyle Ladies kicked off their league season looking to improve on last season’s seventh place finish.

Oke started the brightest with the midfield trio of Harris, Shiv Aslett and Sian Aslett battling away and causing the Brixham midfield and defence some unrest.

With all the possession Oke enjoyed they were lacking in the final third until they produced the best move of the game involving some great one-touch football from Hatcher, Harris, Marks, and Sian Aslett which resulted in Shiv Aslett seeing her shot go just wide.

The breakthrough came when Ellis battled her way through midfield, winning a couple of 50/50 challenges to slot the ball through to Kelly Gilbert who blasted it into the top corner during her first appearance since giving birth.

Oke nearly doubled their lead soon after when a fine ball was played into the area only for Fox to see her looping volley fall straight into the goalkeeper’s hands.

The second half was a massive contrast to the first with Brixham controlling the majority of the half. However they came up against a rock solid back four in Hatcher, Scott-Lawson, Genduso and Vincent. Vincent’s blocks and tenacity in defence earned her the referee’s player of the match award.

Brixham thought they had scored right at the death when Clark-Watkins appeared to misjudge a shot which slid under her body but showed great reflexes to get back and stop the whole ball crossing the line.

With the final whistle blowing the Oke Ladies could now celebrate their first league win and first clean sheet of the new season.

On Saturday Oke Argyle Ladies will play away at Plainmoor at 3pm.