Both sides started in lively fashion with the game flowing from end to end and Ottery getting slightly the better of the early exchanges forcing stand in keeper Stuart Cann to make a couple of good early saves, Okehampton are already struggling with a few first team players missing through injury and considering the outcome of this game are fairing fairly well.
Argyle had a very good appeal for a penalty turned down when Phillip Evans was bought down inside the area within minutes of the start with the referee claiming that the ball had got away from him at the time of impact, Ottery continued to press and the ball was whipped in from the right wing on fifteen minutes and struck sweetly from the edge of the box to find the corner of Argyles net. Okehampton replied with a good period of play and were unlucky when Mathew Mortimer linked up well with Robbie Clarke down Argyles right wing also involving Steve Kinsey who slipped the ball back to Clark only to see the ball skim off the top of the crossbar.
Stand in keeper Stuart Cann was relived to see Argyles regular Keeper Daniel Malcolm turn up half an hour into the game after his trip down from Bristol and this allowed Argyle to shuffle their pack, unfortunately on 40 minutes for what looked like a harmless challenge Argyles Phillip Evans was cautioned for a shoulder challenge this seemed to be a strange decision but worse was to follow.
Okehampton started the second half with a lot of purpose and Kinsey went close when shooting across goal from a tight angle, with the game very even and both sides looking like they could score at any time it was once again Ottery that reacted quickly when awarded a free kick that was taken quickly they caught the Argyle defence napping.
The referee spoilt the game from here on and really seemed to loose the plot, on 62 minutes he sent Phillip Evans off for what he considered a second yellow card when it was clear to everyone watching that the ball had to be challenged and minimal contact was made with the Ottery player. Steve Kinsey gave Argyle some hope when Argyle were down to ten men when he finished calmly slotting the ball past the keeper from close range.
Argyles George Pitts went into the referees book for stroking the ball into the Ottery net just after the referee had blown his whistle, followed by another sending off for Argyle when the referee had plenty of time to defuse a situation that was only going to end up in a mess then Stuart Cann was stuck on the Argyle corner flag with no where to go and Ottery players all over him. Instead he waited for the handbags to come out and very unfairly sent Stuart off on 80 minutes.
Argyles Robbie Miller who worked hard all game up front and received some rough treatment with very little protection from the referee also ended up in the referees book for decent, Ottery rounded off their afternoon when adding a third goal in the dying seconds of the game.
Okehampton Argyle set their stall out to be known as a very fair club, and take a lot of pride in players and supporters behavior and discipline on and off the field. This crazy performance by the man in black has left everyone watching baffled by what they have seen, whilst walking away from the playing area talking to home supporters nobody could understand why two Argyle players had been sent off totally spoiling a game that was competitive but fair.