| Match Report |
North Devon HC 1st teams topsy turvy season continued last weekend, losing 3-2 to the University of Exeter D team.
North Devon started the game in excellent fashion, as Captain Dave Orr scored with a fine shot past a stranded keeper after a quick break by Guy Cockcroft. North Devon then spurned to excellent chances, Cockcroft inexplicably missing after rounding the keeper and with just a defender on the line to beat. Joe Hastie also managed to put the ball wide after a fine cross by Ben Andrews.
The students woke up after this putting together some good passages of play, Sam Wormington in goals making some fine last ditch saves to keep North Devon ahead. Eventually the Uni team equalised after they slotted a drag flick into the bottom corner.
1-1 at half time with all to play for, unfortunately poor discipline saw North Devon reduced to 10 players for a good period of the second half. The students playing some excellent attacking hockey stretching the defensive partnership of Mike Cuthbertson and Matt Brown. Eventually the pressure told and a breakaway saw the students take the lead.
They could have stretched their lead further except for excellent goal line clearances from Cockcroft and Reuben Windley. They grabbed their third goal after a defensive error saw a Uni forward unmarked at the near post to tap in.
There was still time for Ash Thorne to narrowly miss before Cockcroft scored a consolation goal after David Orr won the ball high up the pitch and threaded it through for Cockcroft to dispatch with the last play of the game.
A disappointing result for the North Devon team who face top of the table Torbay next weekend. The league is very close this season and a positive result very much possible.
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