1st Team Vs ECV Hornets

North Devon HC 1st team secured a morale boosting 3-2 victory last weekend against Exeter Culm Vale Hornets 1st team.

Despite some tough defeats over the last couple of weeks, North Devon were definitely  up for the encounter, taking the game to the opposition in the early exchanges.  Indeed they won a number of early penalty corners, all were well saved by the opposition goal-keeper.

Somewhat against the run of play, the Exeter team took the lead, a good move down the right saw a hard cross deflected past Sam Wormington in goals.  North Devon regrouped and kept pressing forward, man of the match Ash Thorne equalising with a rebound from a Guy Cockcroft shot.

Unfortunately the Exeter were reduced to ten players after a facial injury but this didn’t stop them retaking the lead, some lax marking in the circle, saw a forward slap the ball home from close range.

There were no more goals before half-time, a stern team talk from Captain Phil Brand seemed to do the trick with a much better second half performance.  In fact it was Brand leading by example who scored the equalising goal, a rebound from a penalty corner shot.

North Devon then kept pressing for the winner, Guy Cockcroft seeming unable to beat the Exeter goal-keeper or denied by the post after a smart deflection.

Eventually the third goal came for North Devon, a penalty stroke was awarded when Cockcroft was upended in the circle. He got up and dispatched the penalty with aplomb, his 5th goal in three games.

Exeter knowing they had nothing to lose, pressed forward, winning numerous penalty corners.  The defence of Mike Cuthbertson, Jay Corden and Matt Brown holding firm until the final whistle.

North Devon will be hopeful that this will kick start their campaign and face another key game next weekend away at Redruth based team Duchy.