1st Team Vs Shepton Mallet

North Devon HC 1st team made the journey to Shepton Mallet last weekend, putting in a good performance but ultimately losing out 4-3.

A number of absentees, including top goal scorer Guy Cockcroft and goal keeper Sam Wormington still saw the Devon Team travel with a strong squad. Dale Triccoe went in goals and Josh Godfrey made his first league appearance of the season.

North Devon started very well, quick ball to the forwards saw chance being created. Joe Taylor-Richards cutting in and shooting narrowly wide.

Josh Godfrey opened the scoring after a Roger Casper through pass put him free, he rounded the keeper in style. North Devon sold doubled the lead after a good steal in Midfield by Captain Phil Brand, Josh slotted the ball home at the far post.

There was still time for a North Devon to hit the post twice through Phil Brand and Dave Orr, the result perhaps being different if those goals had gone in.

Shepton started to pile on the pressure and scored themselves after a quickly taken free hit, North Devon not reacting quick enough a reverse stick strike beating Triccoe.

Shepton then equalised after Roger Casper expertly cleared the ball off the line but then felled the opposition forward when it appeared he slipped.  The umpire felt it had been a deliberate foul and awarded a penalty. That was well dispatched and North Devon were on the back foot.

The Somerset team then took the lead in the second half, when North Devon where pressing and left themselves exposed at the back, a long ball found its way to the Shepton forward who put it in.

North Devon kept going forward and equalised when Giles Rowden flicked the ball past the keeper after excellent approach play by man of the match Josh Godfrey.  Unfortunately North Devon started to tire and conceded a late corner which was dispatched with a Triccoe going the wrong way.

A disappointing result but a good performance with the North Devon side playing their best hockey of the season at times.  Next week they are at home to Tavistock HC.