CONNOR Marshall’s tenure as the Newton Abbot Spurs 1st XI manager got off to a successful start with a 2-0 win over Okehampton Argyle.

Spurs won this fixture home and away last season and they continued that trend at The Rec on the evening of Friday, August 1.

Marshall spoke of being “over the moon” to get the three points on opening night, taking them to the SW Peninsula League summit ahead of the Saturday afternoon fixtures.

All four of the club’s new signings, announced on social media the day prior, went straight into the starting lineup and they all made a notable impact.

Young striker Toby Hard was lucky to get away without a card, yellow or red, after an unsavoury sliding challenge with less than 15 minutes on the clock.

The next moment of incident saw Spurs skipper Lewis Breslan come close to opening the scoring, a powerful header destined for the back of the net being cleared well by the Argyle defence.

Looking at a fairly even 45, Marshall commented that his sides “were playing the occasion more so than the game. We knew we had a game plan but we were a bit out of sync.”

Neither side was able to break the deadlock in the first half and the referee continued to let plenty go. Tackles were flying in left, right and centre and it was a good sight to see Coby White return to his feet after having his head stood on.

Talking of White and the 17-year-old was the man of the moment in Newton Abbot. He broke through after half-time only to roll an effort just wide of the far post but he didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity.

A cross came in and there he was on the edge of the box, letting off an effort with his left foot and leaving the young Argyle goalkeeper Markos Efstathiadis with no chance of stopping it. In response, White wheeled away in celebration and was flooded by Spurs teammates and Marshall “couldn’t have been prouder” to see this.

In the words of Argyle manager Richard Washburn: “For the first goal, we switched off and then I thought we would react but didn’t really.”

Spurs did react though and were able to kick on as a result, Hard forcing Efstathiadis into a strong save before getting the ball back and setting up Brad Crocombe. The midfielder duly obliged and slotted home a clincher through the bodies, to delight the majority of those in attendance at The Rec.

Crocombe was another who could easily have seen red on another day for some lively tackles, receiving a yellow not long after scoring, as did Argyle defender Aaron Hicks.

Marshall spoke very highly of his side after the game, “The second half was proof in the pudding of what we’re trying to do here at Spurs. Can we be better, yes, and I want us to keep going but it’s a great start.”

His opposite number Washburn had a similar assessment, musing that “the better side won.”

He continued, “We just didn’t really come out for the second half and they dominated us physically again.

“Things are looking really good for Okehampton, we just need a bit more time and for things to gel and we will be a threat.”

This pair have very different scenarios for the coming weeks with Spurs not playing again until Saturday 16. Argyle meanwhile, visit Torridgeside AFC on Wednesday 6 before hosting Ilminster Town and Crediton United in quick succession.