South West two

Ashmoor B 1 

LEAGUE leaders Okehampton A travelled to ISCA College to take on second place Ashmoor B. Although the league title was already secured, Okehampton were determined to beat their closest rivals.

It was a cagey first half with both teams defences cancelling out the threat of the forwards.

Alex Osman and John Jarvis controlled their back line for Oke with the unwavering support of holding midfield player, Tim Morgan. Lacking cunning and guile Okehampton's forwards were unable to make a telling final ball and the half time whistle went with the honours even.

Skipper Brett Lawson altered the positions within the team for the second half; this had the immediate effect of a tighter midfield, now with Neil Rowlands and Jake Lloyd distributing the ball to wide players, Stuart Jarvis and Alex Emuss.  Pressure mounted on the home defence as Okehampton camped out in Ashmoor's half. The breakthrough came following a good spell of possession play, which saw Lawson superbly convert a cross fizzed in by right back Simon Bourne.  Ashmoor did not lie down but did not trouble Okehampton keeper George Alex Morgan. However, a piece of sloppy play by Oke gifted Ashmoor possession and drove direct into the D. Osman was disappointed to give a way a penalty corner, which was skilfully executed with a reverse stick strike into the back of the goal.

Good movement from young Jacob Jones and solid defending from Tom Hutchins on the left saw Okehampton regain their composure, stringing together long sequences of passes to frustrate the opposition midfield, swinging the ball from left to right.

Okehampton made their possession advantage count and following a cleared penalty corner, man of the match Simon Bourne, carried the ball back into the D and got a strike on goal away only to have it cleared accidently on the line by a defender's foot, resulting in a penalty stroke.

Jake Lloyd stepped up and converted the flick to secure a 2-1 victory to further extend their lead at the top of the league.

­Okehampton A 3

Teign A 1

ON a bright and sunny spring day Okehampton A played their final match of the season, having won the league and being unbeaten at home.

Oke started on the attack, moving the ball well especially down the left where Alex Emuss ran riot, but against the run of play they were caught on the break and Teign scored the first goal.

Oke shrugged off the disappointment to push on again and a well hit ball to Chris Luxton in the corner saw him fire it across the goal where captain Brett Lawson picked it up and with a reverse strike hit, brought the score level. 

Teign kept the pressure on but due to the good defensive play of John Jarvis, Alex Osman, Simon Bourne and Tom Hutchings, keeper George Morgan only had to make 1 clearance.

The constant threat from Oke caused some frantic defending by Teign and Oke were awarded a penalty flick when a Teign player stopped the ball from going in by using his body. Jake Lloyd stepped up but put the ball just wide.

Oke started the second half brightly and with a slight change of formation put the pressure on the Teign defence. Chris got into the D playing pinball with the defence to put the ball in the net.

The midfield of Neil Rowlands, Jake Lloyd and man of the match Tim Morgan thwarted any Teign efforts to pin Oke back in their own half. 

The three subs were used to effect bringing on fresh legs with Stuart Jarvis using his speed down the wing to fire in crosses, Mark Bingham making some blistering tackles. Freshly back from injury Jaden Read settled right back in as if he had never been out.

Oke had created many chances but it took Jake with one of his probing runs to get into the D and with an open side strike put the ball in the net to redeem himself and  making 3-1 the final score.

The Okehampton A side have won the Davis Wood South West two league in emphatic style, being 21 points clear of their neares trivals.