Carlsberg

South Western League

Tavistock 1

Porthleven 5

THE Lambs were severely put to the test against title contenders Porthleven at Langsford Park. The unexpected loss of striker Jeff Babb, who signed for Liskeard in midweek, did not help the cause.

The Lambs had a good first half despite going in a goal down at half-time. The visitors took the lead after the Lambs thought they had conceded a corner but a free kick was given against them on the edge of the area and Lee Harvey rose to head home.

Antony Thirlby had to leave the field with a recurring leg injury to be replaced by Tony Cusack and on 35 minutes the Lambs drew level when Lee Beer put in a telling far-post cross for Nathan Blamey to ghost in and head home.

The euphoria of coming back into the game was short-lived when three minutes later a flowing move out of defence with a crossfield ball found Miller to turn inside and drill it past Meeds.

The Lambs found themselves further behind after seven minutes of the second half as Craig Swiggs latched onto a through-ball to shoot low past Meeds. It looked an uphill battle for the home side.

Rob Hawkins and John Gosling, returning from injury, replaced Graeme Kirkup and Chris Gott with 25 minutes remaining and Hawkins was unlucky to see a long-range shot fly over the bar.

In the last quarter of an hour the visitors added goals. Meeds saved well but Harvey following up headed home then substitute Morrison-Hill picked up the ball in his own half to leave Gosling and Beer in his wake to round Meeds and slot home from a tight angle for the goal of the game.

The Lambs' day was completed when Andy Parnowski received his marching orders for a second booking after a foul on Morrison-Hill.

After the game joint manager Craig Smith said: 'We put in a good first half but were beaten by the better side, they have got a squad of immense quality and we just could not compete. We will learn from it and hopefully bounce back and get something from the game at Newquay this Saturday.'

Result: P&D George Gillan Trophy: Kevin Purdy Roofing 2, Tavistock 3 (D Babb, N Monk pen, P Cowling).

l Fixtures: Saturday Carlsberg SWL, Newquay v Tavistock at Mount Wise, kick-off 3pm. Saturday sees the P&D side in further cup action when they take on the University of Plymouth A in the P&D league Stafford Williams Premier Cup at Langsford Park, kick-off 2.30pm.

l Monthly draw for September: £60 A Smallacombe, £30 Craig Smith, £15 Andy Meeds.