North Devon 1s win on return to league hockey
Posted by David Orr on 28 September 2021
PGSOB started strongly, pressing the away team deep into their own half, but Sam Kirkness wrongfooted the PGSOB keeper with an excellent reverse stick strike after a quick pass from Ben Andrew to put the Reds ahead. Andrew turned provider again a few minutes later, when a lapse in the PGSOB defence left Pete Smale through one on one, where he duly rounded the keeper and finished emphatically to put North Devon 2-0 up at half time.
An unfortunate own goal from Ben Cox at the beginning of the second half closed the gap to 2-1, but North Devon were able to take advantage of PGSOB's continued attempts to throw men forward in their search for an equaliser. A scrambled goal for skipper David Orr after the ball had come back off the post restored the 2 goal cushion. An absence of any marking at the back then allowed Smale to take his second in acres of space, and then a couple of minutes later very unselfishly turn provider for the tireless Ashley Thorne to finish with a flourish.
"We were robust in defence and clinical in attack, fully deserving the points", summed up Captain Orr after the match.
Looking forward to next Saturday where at home the 1st XI are hosting University of Exeter 6th team, and the 2nd XI get their league campaign underway away to Sidmouth and Ottery 3rds.
