Club XI Vs O.P.M. [Men's Friendly]

Barbery Brace Helps Duchy to Victory in Plymouth

Stu Barbery scored twice as a Duchy XI recorded a 4-2 win against an O.P.M. XI in a good-spirited friendly under the lights at Brickfields.

Duchy's squad included players from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd XIs, plus four new signings, making for a slightly disjointed opening twenty minutes; however the Cornish side looked to be generally in the ascendency and ultimately took a 1-0 lead from the penalty spot - Rick Searle firing home after Richard Swann's goalbound shot had hit a foot on the line.  Five minutes later and Duchy were 2-0 ahead when Stu Richardson's wayward injection from a penalty corner was rescued by Searle, who played in Barbery to smash home from 12 yards; before O.P.M. got themselves back into the match on the stroke of half time with a neat finish after the ball had run loose in the Duchy circle.

Duchy were more dominant in the second period, with improved possession and passing; although O.P.M. were a constant threat on the break and drew a man-of-the-match performance from Toby Walker in the visitors' goal.  Mid-way through the half Duchy restored their two goal lead with another Barbery strike - this time from a regulation penalty corner - and with ten minutes to play the result was put beyond doubt when debutant, Alex Manning, cleverly guided home a Simon Rafferty cross from six yards for 4-1.

O.P.M. continued to work hard until the final whistle, and collected a consolation two minutes from time with a goal on the break to finally beat the impressive Walker; and bring an excellent match to a 4-2 conclusion.

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O.P.M. XI | 2 | 35f, 67f

Duchy XI | 4 | Rick Searle 20ps; Stu Barbery 26f, 49pc; Alex Manning 60f