Carlsberg Peninsula South West premier

Bovey Tracey 1

Tavistock AFC 1

THE Lambs put in a much better performance at Bovey Tracey and fully deserved their draw, and with better finishing in front of goal would have taken all three points.

The opening was evenly contested, with each side adjusting to a playing surface that only passed a mid-day pitch inspection for the game ahead.

In the 10th minute Neil Kinsman lost his footing and the winger broke into the box but his shot was well saved by Andy Meeds, who could only parry the fierce shot which after a goal-mouth scramble, it fell kindly to the unmarked Mike Turner six yards out, who slotted the ball home.

Tavistock left winger Mike Dalley was causing the home defence problems, and it was his cross that found Ryan Fice in the penalty area, and as he went to turn he was pushed to the ground by the centre half, but the

Andy Meeds was then called into action when Glen Palmer unleashed a rasping drive 22 yards, which looked destined for the top corner. Meeds at full stretch to his right turned the ball away for a corner, showing that he is still a class goalkeeper.

Play moved from end to end with the Lambs playing some really attractive football, but once again their finish let them down, with little penetration inside the penalty area. On several occasions they were forced to shoot from long range due to some tight marking by home defence.

Dave Hallett had two strong shots easily saved by Tom Buckler in the home goal, before a pass from Ashley Menhenick found Levi Landricombe inside the penalty area; he fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Its was a good first half performance by the Lambs but they could not level the scores before the interval.

The Lambs started the second half with great purpose and put the home defence under tremendous pressure, forcing them to concede a number of free kicks just outside their penalty. The first free kick saw Robbie Pethick's shot glance the crossbar with keeper beaten, then Landricombe took the second and his tremendous drive was deflected over the bar for a corner, from which Dan Pethick headed over.

Three minutes later the lambs should have equalised when Mike Dalley put Levi Landricombe clear - he lobbed the advancing keeper only to see his effort finish land on the net over the crossbar. Mike Dalley was outstanding throughout the match, and it was his delightful pass that set Landricombe free but gain he lobbed the keeper but this time his effort went inches wide of the upright.

With the lambs missing the goal scoring opportunities it was likely they would get caught on the break by the home side, as they pushed more men forward. With 15 minutes to go Bovey's Roger Bonapart broke free, and played in Turner but his shot was well saved by Andy Meeds.

With time running out it was beginning to look like the Lambs were not going to get anything out of the game while playing well. In the dying minute Martin Sullivan came to the rescue when following a corner kick he volleyed home, an unstoppable shot from 18 yards. A minute later, he almost won the game when another shot whistled pass the upright, with the home keeper beaten.

Possession in the second half must have been at least 75%-25% in favour of the Lambs and the home team were outplayed for long periods.

This was a great improvement from last week, with a more all round balanced team. If this level of performance can be maintained and the finishing improved then there is no doubt the club can pull away from the relegation zone.