Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Okehampton Argyle 4

Exwick Villa 3

OKEHAMPTON achieved the result of the day with this victory over previously unbeaten league leaders Exwick Villa at Simmons Park. This was a pulsating match with the game balanced on a knife edge throughout and Argyle who had started the day one off the bottom of the table showed that with a full squad they can be a match for anybody.

Argyle were faster put of the blocks and took the lead after five minutes when a tremendous build up of passes saw Ed Squire storm through wide on the right and his fierce cross was too strong for Villa keeper Fred Tonkin, who could only push it into the top of his net. Argyle continued to compete for every ball and looked sharp in midfield and up front and on 27 minutes another good build up saw Dale Chadwick blast home a ferocious drive from the edge of the box to double the lead. However, Exwick now showed their class and only four minutes later, Callum Hoare reduced the arrears with a cracking 30 yard drive from wide on the right. This signalled a period of play in which the visitors dominated and within three minutes, they were level when a ball across the face of the goal was tapped home by Sean Densham.

Okehampton then had to dig in and defend for the remaining ten minutes before the interval and were relieved to go in level as Exwick poured on the pressure.

Argyle came out from the interval refreshed and competed hard for every ball in what was to be a very even second half.

Both sides hit the bar in a tremendous end to end contest, but it was Argyle who struck next. On 72 minutes, a long through ball saw Gary Hird use his speed to outpace his marker and brilliantly fire past Tonkin and another Villa defender to put the home side back in the lead.

This only lasted six minutes as the visitors fought back and when the Argyle defence failed to clear a cross in from the left, Callum Hoare picked the ball up just inside the area and fired in off the post to level the game yet again.

Argyle brought on substitutes Ollie Crimmins and Ed Bradshaw, both forwards, in a brave attempt to go for all three points but with only five minutes remaining the visitors were awarded a penalty when home keeper Craig Mulholland fouled a visiting forward in a goalmouth scramble. However, Mulholland did brilliantly to push Danny Burwood's penalty round the post for a corner. Back came Oke and a brilliant run down the left by Crimmins saw him put in a cross which had the visitors' defence in all sorts of trouble. As the ball was played back across the face of the Villa goal, Ed Bradshaw fired the ball home from close range to regain Argyle's lead and ensure all three points.

Every player in the Argyle squad played out of their skins for this tremendous win but special mention must go to Gary Hird for his non-stop running up front and captain Dale Chadwick for a competitive performance in midfield.

The winner of the Okehampton Argyle 'fivers' club' was drawn in the clubhouse by organiser and club vice president Pete Carter and the prize of £250 was won by Dale Chadwick. .