FA Vase

Wellington 5

Tavistock AFC 0

THE Lambs were comprehensively beaten by Western League side Wellington Town in the first round of the FA Vase.

Tavistock were without the influential Dave Hallett, John James and Chris Head.

The game got off to a fast start, and it was the Lambs that had the first scoring opportunity in the fifth minute when a fine long ball from defence found Sam Davey wide on the right, he cut into the penalty area and his fine angled shot was cleared off the line by a defender with the keeper well beaten.

Within two minutes the home side took the lead when they broke down the right and Joe Dakawa cut inside and fired an unstoppable shot past Lamb's keeper Andy Meeds.

In the 15th minutes in another attack by Wellington, a right wing cross was only partially cleared by the visitors defence, and the ball fell kindly to the unmarked Simon Ingram on the edge of the box, his crashing volley rifled in the top corner.

It was clear to see that losing the three key midfield players affected the balance of the visiting team.

The next phase of the game was even with the Lambs showing some purpose in their attacking play, but once again they lacked the cutting edge in and around the penalty area.

Then just before the interval the game was virtually wrapped up by the home team when Craig John Laird headed home from a corner kick.

The Lambs came out with more purpose in the second half but failed to break down a very resolute Wellington defence.

Wellington then increased their lead against the run of play in the 70th minute when Laird scored his second of the game, and Craig Herrod completed the scoring in the 80th minute.

The Lambs miserable day got even worse when Jimmy Alexander was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a clumsy challenge in the middle of the park, in the closing minutes of the game.

This was a really disappointing performance, after two really good results. There is no doubt that the lost of the three midfield players was a contributory factor, but it appeared that no one was really at the top of their game on the day.

It is important that the team regroup and get ready for the challenge of facing last years League Champions this Saturday.

n This Saturday the Lambs are at home to Buckland Athletic kick-off 3pm. Tavistock reserves visit Totnes and Dartington in the second round of the Devon premier cup, kick-off 2pm.