Ottery Crickets Ladies’ 1st XI 2, Exeter Uni 0

The ladies’ first team kept their promotion hopes alive with a 2-0 win against Exeter Uni 2nds at home this week, writes Nicky Bishop.

Although fielding a young team, Crickets soon settled into their game, and created chances in their oppositions’ circle. Frustratingly not being able to convert any of these chances, it was 0-0 at half time, and Crickets knew they had to up their game to get the three points.

In the second half, bringing Anna Bowker into the midfield proved to be a great decision, as she converted both of Crickets' goals. The first was the result of a wandering ball in Exeter’s circle, which Anna quickly got a stick to and slotted past the keeper.

The second was a fantastic strike from right on the edge of the circle, leaving the goalkeeper stranded. Anna Bowker and Meg Dudding were voted players of the match. The ladies stay second in the Petroc 1 league, only trailing leaders Okehampton by two points.

Ottery Crickets Men’s 1st XI 1,

Exeter Uni 2

The men’s first team narrowly lost out to Exeter University 2-1.

The game was decided in the second half. The University scored first from a scuffled shot, overloading the home defence with Crickets stretched.

To their great credit, Crickets showed their fighting spirit to keep themselves in the game. Their defence continued to snuff out most that was thrown at them – Matt Barbour, Miller and the returning Jonny Gordon played with great maturity in the defence.

Crickets levelled within 10 minutes - Tom Down attacked the left flank, his cross taking a deflection from a University defender to put it out of Ogborne’s reach but towards Mikey Bell, who ghosted in from the left at the back post to scored confidently, 1-1.

Against such strong opposition, the home spectators would have settled for a draw but that wasn’t to be.

Gordon found himself under pressure at left back, a pass to Windy Miller gave him few options and his pass into midfield was intercepted; the University overloaded and scored, 1-2. This proved to be the final result.