Tavistock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Torquay Utd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

ALMOST 300 fans turned up at Langsford Park to see the Gulls dive-bomb the Lambs with this convincing victory.

But the night was for and belonged to Tavistock?s keeper Andy Meeds who was making his 200th consecutive appearance for the Lambs and who was made captain for the night.

And there was a Tavistock connection on the Torquay side with local boy Ben Camarra captaining the Gulls.

The Lambs had the first attack but found themselves a goal down after just 90 seconds as Jimmy Benefield went on a solo run from the halfway line and steered the ball home.

They found themselves two down after 12 minutes when Australian Paul Harries was brought down in the area to get up and convert the resultant spot kick.

But Tavistock?s heads did not drop as Chris Gott forced the Gulls? new signing from Exeter Arjan van Heusden to finger-tip his shot over the bar. Gott went close again and the keeper denied Lee Doncaster with another fine stop. The sustained pressure finally told as Jeff Babb got on the end of a James Cole corner kick with a bullet of a header.

But the visitors showed the way to counter attack as former Arsenal youngster Joe Kaffour blasted another past Meeds.

The second half started similar to the first as the Gulls scored after two minutes when Dean Stevens latched on to a through-ball to chip over Meeds from the edge of the area.

Cole flashed a shot just past the post before Meeds? work for the night was done. He left the field to a generous round of applause to be replaced by P & D keeper Craig Howells.

His first moments of action had the crowd applauding as he saved at the feet of John Morris. Minutes later he again forced Morris wide but with great composure the striker turned back inside to hit the ball high into the net.

Bond completed the scoring with three minutes left when he lashed the ball home from 20 yards after the Lambs? appeal for handball at the other end was ignored.

Tavistock: Andy Meeds, Lee Beer, James Cole, Nathan Blamey, John Hajiyianni, Darren Babb, Chris Gott, Paul Smith, Jeff Babb, Lee Doncaster, Wayne Crow.

It was a roll-on roll-off evening of substitutions with the following all getting at least two spells on the pitch: Craig Howells, Chris Short, John Gosling, Mark Wall, Simon Parnell, new signing Paul Adcock, Rob Hawkins and Graeme Kirkup.

The teams officials and ball boys from Tavistock were introduced to West Devon mayor Cllr Richard Phillips before to the game.

In the club after the match, Andy Meeds was presented with a 12-set of glasses from Cllr Phillips and a pair of gloves from the ?Dartmoor Prison Cat? (alias Eric Pinch). Eric has finally retired from between the sticks after suffering two dislocated fingers when making a comeback after being out with a leg injury for two years.

The ball boys were presented with Tavistock AFC club badges and Tavistock AFC car stickers by Torquay United chairman Mike Bateson.

l Forthcoming fixtures: Saturday, Carlsberg South Western League, Holsworthy v Tavistock, kick-off 2.30pm.

P & D Comb Premier Cup, Tavistock v Plymouth Civil Service, Langsford Park, note kick-off 2pm.

l The car boot and jumble sale for Sunday has been cancelled.

l On Friday, November 15 Tavistock AFC hold their annual fund-raising day at Tavistock Golf Club. It is a four person event. For further information and an entry form contact Derrick Pethick on 01822 613563.