Taunton C.S. A vs Okehampton A

Service were keen to win this match, especially given their dominance over Okehampton earlier in the season. With ten men, Taunton had played away to score a famous win. Well, the side that came to visit Civil was completely different to that which lost back in December.

The home side played some excellent hockey in the first half, but they were matched by Okehampton. Play flowed back and forth, testing both keepers several times; Mike Whitman was forced to make a stick save in the opening minute.

The deadlock was broken close to half-time, when the visitors finally scored from one of several short corners. The shot, rifled along the ground, under the feet of one of the runners, sped past the keeper to strike the back boards.

Although disappointed, Civil kept their heads up and began pressuring for an equaliser, although this strategy did offer opportunity for counter attack. A lone Okehampton player made it into the D with the ball, close to the back line. With his angles shut down by the goalie, the striker's shot went wide, across the open goal as the keeper logged.

Before going out of play, the ball found the stick of Ben Caile, who successfully knocked it into his own goal; he was attempting to block the attacking run of a non-existent Okehampton player who was speeding up behind him.

Demoralised, Taunton set up again. Although Service have a large number of draws to their credit this season, surprisingly few have come in games where they have found themselves behind. Still, the team worked hard to rally around and attacked strongly.

Mark Sawyer scored first, breaking his personal goal scoring record for a single season. Conor Neal struck shortly after, near the end of the game.

With the match hanging in the balance, both sides sought a winner. In the final seconds of the match, the ball found itself in the Taunton D. After a hectic attack, which saw the ball stopped on the line, under the foot of Mike Whitman, the game ended in a draw.

Ali Johnston was named the man of the match.