Jewson South Western

Saltash 2

Tavistock 1

NOVEMBER came to a disappointing end for the Lambs at Kimberly Stadium with the home side getting the edge in this hard fought encounter.

For the first 20 minutes the Lambs took the game to the Ashes' and Chris Kiely could have done better when cutting in from the wing to send a shot wide.

But the home side took the lead on 20 minutes. A low cross went in behind the defence and Andy Meeds was unable to cut it out. It gave Mike Southgate the easiest of tasks to tap it into an empty net.

Tavistock had a couple of chances when Craig Hodge headed over from a corner and Jon Gosling had a long range shot that flew over the bar after being set up by Darren Halfyard and Mark Wall.

It was not until two minutes before the interval that the home side increased their lead when Matt Penry's pass split the Tavistock defence. Soutgate raced on and around the on-rushing Meeds and put the ball into the net.

Tavistock pushed for their opener and they were unlucky as Danny McTighe charged down keeper Charles West's clearance but his chip back towards goal went wide. It was not going to be the Lambs' day as on the hour Halfyard's cross was met at close range by Gosling whose header went straight at West.

Chris Gott had come on for Gary Williams and with 15 minutes remaining a double substitution was made with Paul Mellor and new signing Ben Pinkham from St Cleer replacing Gosling and Hodge.

West was again the saviour for the Ashes when Halfyard was put through and the keeper saved at the striker's feet. It was not until the final minute that he was beaten when Gott was upended in the area for McTighe to convert the spot kick. The comeback had come all too late and time ran out for the Lambs.

Team: Andy Meeds, Al Trevorrow, James Cole, Mark Wall, Craig Hodge (sub Ben Pinkham 75m), Darren Babb, John Gosling (sub Paul Mellor 75m), Gary Williams (sub Chris Gott 59m), Darren Halfyard, Danny McTighe and Chris Kiely. Sub not used Kevin Russell.

l Fixtures: Saturday, Jewson South Western, no game. P&D Combination Premier, Tavistock v Mainstone Sports, away at Brickfields, kick-off 2.30pm.

Sunday, South Devon Do Do League O35s, Tavistock Vets v Newton Abott away, kick-off 10.30am. Devon Ladies League, Devon County cup, Tavistock Ladies v Southway. Devon Junior Minor League, Tavistock U18s v Railway Beacon, Crowndale, kick-off 2pm.