Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Plymstock United 1

Okehampton Argyle 4

OKEHAMPTON Argyle played their first game of 2015 and continued their good run of form with this emphatic victory at Plymstock United.

Despite missing several players through injury, suspension and unavailability, such is the strength in depth of Kevin Taylor's squad, Argyle were still able to field a pretty formidable starting line up. However, having not played for three weeks, they were a little slow to get going and it was the hosts who posed the early threat with Harry Geering having to pull off two smart saves in the opening minutes. Once Argyle had got to grips with the sticky conditions they began to get the ball into wide areas with Luke Alden causing the home defence problems and slowly took a foothold in the game. Argyle went close to taking the lead in the 20th minute but Plymstock keeper Paul Pethick did well to tip over Dale Chadwick's goal bound free kick.

The opening goal came four minutes later when Roger Bonaparte raced onto Dale Chadwick's through ball, outmuscled the Plymstock centre half and squared the ball for Jason Cordice to finish from close range.

Jason Cordice and Roger Bonaparte both went close to increasing Argyle's lead but were denied by two smart saves from Paul Pethick and the Plymstock keeper then made a point blank save from Ross Voaden, after Oli Crimmins' initial shot had rebounded off the post. Just before half time, Argyle had Harry Geering to thank for maintaining their lead going into the break when he saved well from Peter Styring.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half was end to end with both sides guilty of squandering half chances, but Argyle increased their lead on the hour when Ross Voaden outpaced the Plymstock defence, took Corey Burns' long ball in his stride and lashed an unstoppable shot high past the despairing dive of Paul Pethick in the Plymstock goal.

Argyle were now in total control and a combination of further saves from Pethick and some wayward finishing saw both Argyle substitutes, Brad Ausden and Ed Squire, plus Ross Voaden and Luke Alden, miss chances to score. Argyle's third came in the 75th minute when Brad Ausden's whipped free kick was headed in at the near post by Jason Cordice, who completed his hat trick five minutes later with Argyle's fourth when he was again on hand to finish from close range after great work from Brad Ausden on the left flank. In the dying seconds when Plymstock were awarded a penalty after Alex Wren made an overzealous challenge and Ryan Yeoman slotted home Plymstock's consolation goal from the spot.

Argyle manager Kevin Taylor was delighted with his team's performance on a difficult surface.

'To be fair, Plymstock were arguably the better side in the opening 20 minutes and the first goal was crucial,' said Taylor. 'Once we got that, we settled down and whilst it was never comfortable it was a very solid away performance'.

Argyle's second team were also back in action but squandered a host of chances in a 0-0 stalemate with Wessex Rovers 2nds at Simmons Park.