1st Team Vs Taunton C S

North Devon 1st XI travelled away to Taunton for a sunny fixture with Taunton Civil Service at Bishops Fox School.

Taunton C.S. got off to a quick start, with some skilful attacks up the left and right wings. However, it was North Devon who struck first, with a strike by Guy Cockcroft from the top of the D squeezing narrowly past the near post, slightly against the run of play. 

North Devon lacked a little composure during the next passage of play, however a series of solid defensive plays from Ben Andrew (who was awarded Man of the Match for his efforts) and the North Devon defensive line prevented Taunton C.S. from equalising until later in the half.

North Devon started the second half strongly, regaining composure and linking up well through the wide channels in particular. Their pace of play was too much for Taunton and eventually an attempted clearance from the D led to a strike to the far post and excellent deflection into the goal by Ashley Thorne. 

North Devon kept the pressure firmly on Taunton C.S., winning 50:50 balls and defending well in open play and at defensive short corners. Eventually this pressure led to a further breakthrough by North Devon later in the second half, following a nice period of attacking play. A number of linked passes along the line and baseline eventually found captain David Orr, who threaded a laser pass to Joe Hastie’s reverse stick in the centre of the D and the ball soon disappeared into the net for the midfielders first goal for the club. This took the game away from Taunton C.S. and despite a late 2nd goal by them, it was too little too late. 

North Devon played the game out well with some nifty skills from Ben Cox and others and overall it was another well fought victory for North Devon, to take them close to the top of the table as they enter the Christmas break.