North Devon hit visitors for six in fine win

Following two hard-fought defeats against tough opposition, North Devon Men’s 2nds were hoping to bounce back against Ocean City 3rds in their sixth outing of the season.

They did just that and then some, firing six – with no response – past their adversaries to register an impressive win and bolster their league position.

North began in the ascendancy, passing strongly and breaking through the visitors’ defensive line on multiple occasions in the opening ten minutes. This was soon rewarded when Bradley Bellingham dispatched a clean strike to give the hosts a deserved lead.

Unwilling to rest on their laurels, the home side kept the pressure on, leaving little in the way for Ocean to take advantage of on the counter. This was soon rewarded when Bellingham struck a second to double the hosts’ lead.

While the away team began to gain some poise, the hosts were unrelenting in their attack, registering two more excellent strikes – a third through Luke Brunton and fourth through Chris Broome – to give North a thumping lead going into the break.

The second half continued in much the same vein and, despite the visitors’ admirable determination to fight on, North remained totally in control. The forays forward that Ocean were able to produce were quelled by the hosts’ defence, particularly Freddie Lee in an exceptional, man of the match-awarded debut.

Maintaining possession and working deftly through the middle, the home side kept Ocean squarely on the back foot. This soon paid off again when, following a wonderful yet uncharacteristic slaloming run into the D, defender Per Hampton converted a showstopping, net-bulging fifth from a tight angle, sending the onlookers on the sidelines into raptures.

While five goals ahead, North remained steadfast going forward and soon wrapped things up with a blistering sixth from the top of the D by Gerrie de Beer.

Reconvening at the end, all agreed that this was a great, spirited and unified display. With confidence up, they will hope to build on this in Exeter next week.

Elsewhere, North Devon Ladies’ 1sts maintained their 100% winning run with a splendid 7-0 win at home against the resolute Exeter 4s. While the match began fairly level in terms of possession, the hosts ultimately outpaced their opponents across the park, delivering a plethora of goals with no response. They remain top of the league on goal difference.

North Devon Men’s 1sts travelled to Plymouth for a close-fought affair against the Plymouth Lions 2nds. Despite North producing some strong early passing and taking the lead, the Lions struck back with two goals of their own before half time.

While the visitors produced defensive heroics in the second half, they were unable to break through and the Lions took the spoils.

North Devon Ladies’ 2nds travelled to meet Sidmouth and Ottery 2nds in a difficult encounter won 6-1 by the hosts. While the team continued to improve across the park, with lots of positives to build on, the home side’s pressure proved too strong.