Okehampton 1 Foxhole 3

[Darin Morse]

Okehampton 1 Foxhole 3

Saturday 26th September 2009

While Foxhole undoubtedly played a full part in this entertaining encounter, and stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a second successive victory, the outcome would have been different had Okehampton's best player Mortimer been able to convert more than one of a string of golden opportunities that fell his way, particularly in the second half. As it was, two late goals by Rowe capped a fine personal performance and sealed a trip to Liverton in the next round.

The Foxes started brightly, pinning the hosts inside their box from the off and they may have taken an early lead either from Nicholls' drive or following a great run from Ansell, whose low cross needed only a touch. However, the action soon swung to the other end and, from a Wills corner, Mortimer's far post header was cleared off the line by Meens, with Ryan Holland equal to Prouse's follow up effort. From the resulting corner, Mortimer was again denied, this time by the keeper. The goalmouth incident continued apace, with Pinhammer and Rowe combining well to create chances for each other before a flowing move was spoiled by Entwhistle's tame finish. After Williams' mazy dribble down the left, the legs of the busy Holland were soon required to prevent a certain goal by the lively Mortimer, who then saw yet another effort saved. However, on 33, Adam Holland's deep free kick was flicked on by Rowe into the path of Grose, who cleverly squared the ball for the onrushing Ansell to ram home from close range. Five minutes later, the lead was almost doubled when Grose's low cross cannoned off Johnston, but Scarry reacted impressively to prevent a spectacular own goal.

For virtually the whole of the second half, the Foxes were on the rack. Williams' fierce shot was tipped over almost immediately after the restart, but, with the three-man rearguard apparently uncertain who best to deploy to mark Okey's sole striker, it was no great surprise when Mortimer raced clear to brillantly chip Holland for the equaliser. There looked only to be one winner, but Williams' poor header after a fine cross by Burdus typified the wasteful nature of the home finishing, although Prouse was perhaps unlucky to see his goal controversially ruled out for a foul on Meens with seventeen minutes left. Mortimer's enterprising play was not matched by similar composure in front of goal, as he somehow squandered two further highly presentable opportunities. Although Nicholls' ought to have done better when through on the keeper, little was seen of Foxhole as an attacking threat until the 89th minute when Ansell's centre was firmly nodded beyond Scarry by Rowe. Within seconds, a long drop-kick by Holland caught Johnston scrambling, and the defender, who had not looked convincing all game, hauled down Nicholls just outside the box. Amazingly, the stand-in referee chose not even to brandish a yellow card, but it hardly mattered as Rowe's free-kick was soon nestling happily in the corner of the net.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Holland, Dexter Lawrence, Daniel Meens; Sam Kenny, Chris Grose, Lee Hazeldine, Scott Ansell, Liam Nicholls (sub. Gary Camps); Ross Pinhammer (sub. Jason Rogers), Mark Rowe.

Okehampton (4-5-1): Saul Scarry; Matt Sanders, Mark Burdus, Kevin Gill, Dan Johnston; Darren Prouse, Steve Williams, Chris Wills, Stuart Entwhistle, Steve Kinsey; Adam Mortimer.

Referee: Mr Chris O'Brien (Torrington).