Jewson South Western League

Saltash 3

Tavistock 2

HAVING arrived 20 minutes after kick-off and finding it was still goalless all seemed well, writes Eric Pinch. But it all changed on the half hour as Lee Harvey powered home a fine header from Ian Symon's great cross.

Minutes later, Andy Meeds was picking the ball out of the net for the second time.

Gary Turner's long punt upfield found ex-Lambs striker Mark Skerton racing in from the angle of the area to make no mistake.

The Lambs had their chances in the first half but came right back into the game in the third minute of the second half. Lee Cansfield's cross into the box caused confusion between Turner and his defenders for John Gosling to steal the ball and turn it in from a narrow angle.

The home side were reduced to ten men in the 66th minute when Paul Adcock received his marching orders for a second booking and the Lambs took full advantage.

Seven minutes later they were back on level terms as Cansfield dived full length to head home George Pitt's cross. From being dead and buried after half an hour, suddenly it looked like they would go on and win. But from the restart the Ashes almost went back into the lead but the ball flew over Meeds' crossbar from three yards.

Six minutes later they did find the net. A mix up in midfield allowed Skerton to go forward but Meeds blocked his shot and the ball fell kindly for Harvey to steer it home from ten yards.

A cruel blow for the Lambs who did well to come back from a two-goal deficit only to lose right at the end.

Liskeard 2

Tavistock 0

THE Christmas gloom continued for the Lambs at Lux Park on Boxing Day. Two goals in three minutes before half-time by top-scorer Andy Sargeant undid the Lambs.

He took a Graeme McMillan pass to turn a defender on the edge of the area before hitting a low drive past Andy Meeds in the 35th minute.

It was a cross from Mike Richards that found Sargeant at the far post to force the ball into the roof of the net.

For the second time this season the Lambs found themselves involved in a game where a player received a suspected broken leg. Early in the second half Richards was stretchered off to hospital.

This was the fourth consecutive defeat in the league for the Lambs. They now hope the mid-season crisis is over and that they can get back into winning ways in the New Year.

The New Year's Day League Cup quarter-final tie against Plymouth Parkway was a victim of the weather. With continuous rain the game was called off mid-afternoon of New Year's Eve.

l Fixtures — Saturday, Jewson South Western League, Tavistock v St Austell, away, kick-off 2.30pm. P & D Premier Tavistock v Bonne Fennterre, Langsford Park, kick-off 2pm.