South West Peninsula division one East

Okehampton Argyle 1

Exmouth Town 1

ARGYLE battled hard to gain a point from second placed Exmouth. Okehampton's hard work pegged back Exmouth who had the slight edge until home side threw everything at them in the last 20 minutes. This was a fiercely contested game which kept the crowd on edge right up to the final whistle. The visitors started off the stronger and created problems when attacking on the right and getting behind the Argyle defence, but good work by central defenders Dale Chadwick and Matt Mortimer and some good punches clear by keeper Harry Geering kept the game all square after 15 minutes.

Argyle fell behind on 17 minutes when a cross in from the right was headed clear by Matt Mortimer only for Ben Clay to fire the ball back in from the left and this time the unfortunate Mortimer was only able to turn the ball past Geering and into his own goal.

The home side did their best to get back against a well organised Exmouth defence which nullified danger man Luke Alden by double marking him throughout the game. On 30 minutes, Steve Madge carved out a good opening but fired just over the bar and generally Exmouth keeper Sandy Allen was not troubled during the first half. Five minutes before half-time, Exmouth came close to increasing their lead when Dave O'Connor cleverly knocked the ball back to Jamie Moore whose 25 yard shot rattled the Argyle crossbar before being safely gathered by Geering.

Argyle took the game to Exmouth in the second half but did not look penetrating against the strong visitors' defence and always risked the chance of being caught on the counter attack. Argyle's central defenders kept them in the game with a superlative performance. Argyle brought on substitutes Alex Wren, Dave Youlden and Toby Gostling to freshen up midfield and attack and this proved to be a turning point as Argyle began to create problems in the Exmouth box. With ten minutes remaining, Luke Alden cut inside the Exmouth defence from the right and released the ball to 16 year-old Toby Gostling who volleyed home a superb equaliser from just outside the box. The last ten minutes produced a real nail-biting finish as both teams went for the win and there was plenty of goalmouth incident at both ends but no further scoring.

In another hard-working team performance, man of the match goes to Matt Mortimer. This result keeps Argyle sixth.

n This Saturday they are away to Galmpton United in the league. In the Devon and Exeter four Argyle Reserves are away to Seaton Town. Both kick-off at 3pm.