Tavistock 2

Bristol City X1 1

THIS pre-season friendly saw City include Sekani Simpson and Lee McGuire, both with first team experience. Also in the squad was Zimbabwe international Steve Mbara, Welsh U18 triallist Richard Egan and Jermaine Brown, trialling from Arsenal, plus four other first year first team squad members.

Had it not been for a friendly against Millwall on the same night there would have been an even stronger squad for the visit to Langsford Park.

The Lambs were at full strength and included local youngster David Hallett from Grenofen who has been on the books of Wimbledon and Yeovil.

It was a perfect evening for football with the ground in excellent condition. City side took the lead in the 12th minute as Brown slipped past the Lambs defence to slide the ball past Andy Meeds.

The Lambs responded immediately in a three-minute spell as Lee Doncaster shot wide from a Nathan Blamey through-ball header, Paul Adcock stabbed wide but made amends to cross into the area for Doncaster to volley home left-footed past David Coupe.

Paul Smith saw his rising drive tipped over the bar by Coupe before City?s tricky frontman Victor Donkin was unlucky not to put his side back in front when his shot hit the crossbar.

But it was the Lambs who finished the stronger of the first half and they were unlucky not to go in at half-time a goal up. Adcock intercepted some defensive play to hook the ball into the area only to see Doncaster?s header come back off an upright with Coupe well beaten.

The second half started with the Lambs on the attack, forcing a corner from which Darren Babb headed wide.

They were awarded another and from this there was a scramble in front of goal for the Lambs to win yet another. This time Babb rose high at the far post to head back across goal and Adcock was on the line to smash home for the Lambs to go into the lead for the first time.

Brown then came through and in a one-on-one with Meeds the keeper came off best to save his fierce shot.

It was then time to ring the changes to give every member of the squad a run out with Steve Daymond and Sean Cann replacing Mark Wall and Paul Smith followed by Lee Howells and Steve Brownlow taking over from Adcock and Doncaster. Daymond was soon in action as his cross found Simon Parnell whose header was saved at point-blank range.

Meeds made way for Craig Howells to take over in goal with Babb and John Gosling being replaced by Chris Short and the return of Paul Smith.

But it was City who finished the stronger with Howells tipping over a free kick from Mbara. Then right on full time Brown had the chance to level the scores as he chested down across only to shoot over the bar from close range.

Tavistock?s first Carlsberg fixture is way to Penryn on Saturday August 16, kick off 3pm.