Carlsberg South Western League

Tavistock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Newquay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

IT was all too easy as The Lambs sucked Newquay's Peppermints in a controlled display of football that sees the Tavistock side top the table for the second time this season.

From the start, Tavistock had Newquay on the back foot with Doncaster going close in the opening minute and again eight minutes later.

In the twelfth minute, from a pinpoint Lee Beer cross, Steve Brownlow blasted over when it seemed easier to hit the target.

Two minutes later the Lambs took the lead when Darren Babb, up for a corner, picked up the loose ball and crossed for Simon Parnell to fire home the fourteenth minute opener. It was Beer who nearly got on the score sheet in the eighteenth minute, his surging run up the middle beating three Peppermint players before firing inches wide of the upright from eighteen yards.

The occasional Peppermint raids were thwarted time and again by the Tavistock defence who never allowed the visiting forwards a shot on goal.

In the thirty-fourth minute, the home side went two up, when James Coles provided a telling ball through to Lee Doncaster who brilliantly fed Paul Smith who scored with consummate ease.

Just before the interval both Doncaster and Parnell had half chances to stretch the lead.

The turn round produced much of the same with Brownlow again going close in the opening minute and in the forty-seventh minute Parnell almost grabbed his second, the shot going narrowly wide of the far post.

In the forty-ninth minute the Tavistock lead was extended when Darren Babb's headed cross was met by Mark Wall for his first goal of the season.

Andy Meads had not one save to make in the first sixty-five minutes but had to be alert when first Luke Weldon fired just wide of the post and then moments later Nick Campbell's sharp strike was comfortably taken by the Lamb's 'keeper.

In the sixty-fifth minute, Tavistock were awarded a penalty. John Gosling's run down the right resulted in the ball being played inside to Steve Brownlow who was chopped down. Paul Smith stepped up to place the ball to the right of Dave Wilton in the Newquay goal.

Newquay continued to press forward, but the Tavistock defence well marshalled by the outstanding Nathan Blamey, allowed little to pass beyond. Jeff Babb and Steve Daymond immediately replaced Doncaster and Brownlow and further chances went begging.

The nearest never-say-die Newquay came to scoring was in the seventieth minute when an inswinging corner was headed off the line by Darren Babb. Ten minutes from time, Steve Shaw came on for James Coles and it was Shaw who put Daymond through to set up Parnell whose shot was smothered by Wilton. Man of the match: Nathan Blamey.

Tavistock: A. Meads, L. Beer, J. Cole (S. Shaw 80min), N. Blamey (capt), M. Wall, D. Babb, J. Gosling, P. Smith, L. Doncaster (J. Babb 65min), S. Parnell, S. Brownlow (S. Daymond 65min). Subs not used Chris Gott, Graeme Kirkup.

Thursday (tonight) P&D Premier home v Vospers at 6.30pm. Saturday 7th Carlsberg SWL away to Wadebridge at 3.00pm. Tuesday 10th Carlsberg SWL home to Callington at 7.30pm.

Carlsberg South Western League

Tavistock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Torpoint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0

THE Lambs went to the top of the league with their third 3-0 victory of the season. Managers Chris Abbott and Craig Smith made changes after the previous defeat with Simon Parnell and Steve Brownlow starting in place of Jeff Babb and Steve Daymond.

Inside ten minutes they were one up when a cross found full back James Cole who let fly with a low drive that took a slight deflection to leave keeper Graham Kimberly stranded.

Mark Wall saw his volley go just over after Lee Doncaster had turned the ball back in the area and Andy Meeds brought off the save of the evening to send the Lambs in at half-time a goal up.

The Lambs had to wait until the 70th minute before they got the second goal when Doncaster got clear of the defence. He seemed to slice the ball as Kimberly came out, but it fell for him again to put into an empty net.

Babb and Daymond came on for Parnell and Brownlow with Daymond setting up Doncaster with his first touch to shoot over. Steve Shaw then replaced Darren Babb as the Lambs went searching for their third.

It finally came with six minutes remaining when John Gosling crossed to the near-post for Paul Smith to blast home from close range.

A far better performance from the Lambs to secure their place at the top.