Hawks up to mid-table

OPM (Plymouth) 2 Bridport Hawks 3

BRIDPORT gave their survival chances a huge boost with their second straight victory.

Rotten weather made life difficult, but the Hawks made their intentions clear from the start with some fast attacks in the opening minutes.

Julian May hit one over the bar and another onto the post and the pressure soon paid off when May passed to Matt Walkden, who drew the keeper out and beat him with a reverse stick shot into the net.

But at one up, the Hawks shook for 20 minutes as OPM rallied and struck home twice, their second goal allowed to stand after a debate between the umpires as the ball only appeared to touch the stick of Hawks' superb defender Charlie Davies.

In the second period, Bridport came out in determined fashion, forcing OPM back for the first 20 minutes.

Richard Puzey passed up the left wing to Walkden on the half way line with his back to the goal.

He produced a deft turn and full sprinting arc to the top of the D, brushed off a defender and fired his shot under the diving keeper to hear the sweet sound of the backboards for the Hawks' leveller.

Walkden had another saved on the line, then Jim Bowditch opted not to take the ball with him on a one-on-one with the keeper before the winner eventually came with just two minutes left.

Veteran defender and star man Rob Sinclair started the move by taking the ball off an attacker and making an excellent line pass up the right wing to Walkden.

The skipper turned his man, made 10 yards and spotted Andrew Frampton, who showed sheer determination to win the ball, narrow the angle and shoot home between the keeper and the post.

Mike May also had an excellent game in goal along with defender Puzey, who has perfected the jab tackle.

Other results: Bridgwater 2 East Devon A 1; Chudleigh 0 Minehead 2; Dawlish 4 Plymouth Univ 3; Exeter Univ A 7 North Devon 0