Tavistock AFC 2

THE Lambs started sluggish and were indebted to goalkeeper Jamie Castle who pulled off two great saves from Launceston's Sam Davey and Dominic Richardson to deny the hosts, but after ten minutes the home side's pressure paid off as Paul Smith's cross was met at the far post by the unmarked Gavin Welsh, who headed past the Lamb's keeper to take a deserved lead.

This seemed to spark the Lambs in to action and within a matter of minutes Kojo Ofori sent Michael Landricombe clear and he lobbed the ball over the onrushing Dan Stevenson in the Launceston goal, but unfortunately the ball just looped over the bar.

Tavistock did not have to wait long to have the opportunity to get back on level terms as Charlie Blair and Paul Smith combined to bring down Levi Landricombe in the box, but from the resultant penalty Neal Kinsman made poor contact with the ball and it bounced twice before the goalkeeper gathered it in his hands.

The Lambs showed great spirit in restoring parity when Levi Landricombe outpaced the Launceston full back down the left wing before swinging the ball across the goal and Ryan Fice met the ball on the half volley, giving Dan Stevenson in the Launceston goal no chance.

Tavistock were now on top but failed to make their possession count and for the third game consecutively went in at half time at 1-1.

After the break it was the Clarets who restored their lead on 70 minutes. Ryan Fice appeared to be fouled just outside of the Launceston penalty box, but the referee waived play on and from the long clearance, Lambs defenders John James and Jamie Ahearn collided with the ball deflecting off the back off James and in to the path of Dominic Richardson. The Launceston striker broke clear from the Tavistock defence and then drew Lambs keeper Jamie Castle off his line before laying the ball across the front off the goal for Chris Head to fire in to an empty net.

Within a matter of minutes the Clarets increased their lead when Liam Tilley released Sam Davey from the halfway line and he raced away to score past Castle from 18 yards.

Tavistock introduced Ben Davies from the substitute bench and he was able to reduce the deficit when with his back to goal, he picked up a pass from Ryan Fice to turn and fire in to the bottom of the Clarets net to give the Lambs some hope of salvaging a point.

However, despite having enough pressure in the dying minutes Tavistock were unable to get themselves back on level terms.

This has been a rebuilding season for the Lambs and their form over the past few months has been that of a side that should spend most of next season at the top end of the table and challenging in the cup competitions.

The two remaining fixtures of the season sees Tavistock host Falmouth Town at Langsford Park on Wednesday evening 7.30pm kick off before the reverse fixture at Bickland Park on Saturday May 7.