SDFL Division Five

Stoke Fleming and Strete 2,

After a week off due to the weather, Stoke returned to the village green to face midtable side Newton Rovers.

Stoke, which have been on a good run of form, went into the game feeling ­confident of another win; however, with Rovers' first team being called off, Stoke's task became that little bit harder, with Rovers naturally bringing in first-team players.

Stoke, however, started the better side, with Dan Cowdery and Lee Robinson looking lively up front. On a boggy pitch it was hard for both teams to play any real passing football, despite the fact that Rovers always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, but when called upon Tom Moysey was on hand to make some fine saves.

Stoke went ahead after good work down the right wing by Jamie Elliot. His cross wasn't dealt with and Dan Cowdery was there at the back post to head home.

Everyone thought it was 2-0 when Robinson squared for the onrushing Cowdery to fire home, but the referee gave offside even though the linesmen hadn't raised his flag.

Half time came with Stoke leading 1-0.

The second half began with Stoke changing from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2, but it didn't exactly help matters when, after the ball broke free in the Rovers' box, a long ball over the top caught out the Stoke back four and the pacey Rovers forward ran in to score.

Rovers then got themselves a penalty after Luke Webber was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, even though it was clear for everyone to see that the ball had actually hit him in the face. However, the referee thought otherwise.

Tom Moysey saved the resulting ­penalty, but on the follow-up he was helpless to keep out the header, with Rovers now leading 2-1.

Stoke made changes and brought on Lance Worthington, Curtis Yeo and Jordan Hodgson. After Webber's free kick was saved, Yeo found himself in the right place to slot home for his third of the season.

It was all Stoke pushing for the winner, and they almost had it, but Eddie Church's header fell to the wrong side of the post with only a few minutes left. The game ended as a fair 2-2 draw.

Tom Moysey was named man of the match.

Next up Stoke are at home to Ashburton, with a 2.30pm kick-off.