Carlseberg South
Western League
Tavistock 4
Torpoint Athletic 0
SUCH was the dominance of a Lambs side now seven games unbeaten into the new season, there has to be a few of the top clubs looking upwards and wondering what has spurred on this renaissance of one the more unfancied sides over the years.
The answer is team spirit, skill and character, led by the management team of Craig Smith and Chris Abbot. They have combined the magic formula of age and experience with a blend of talented young players.
With the second best defence in the league and goalkeeper Andy Meads celebrating his 150th consecutive game for the club, this match had a number of other firsts. With the floodlights on for the first time this season, the Lambs attacked from the start, yet despite several early opportunities had to wait until the 32nd minute to take the lead.
Following a fine five-man move, Mark Wall, celebrated his first goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Jeff Babb produced an abundance of skills to dazzle the Torpoint defence and put in Anthony Thirlby for his sixth goal of the season.
Five minutes from the interval, Thirlby limped off with a hamstring injury, but ten-man Tavistock held out for the remainder of the half.
The early stages of the second half were something of a see-saw encounter, Chris Gott coming on in place of the injured Thirlby, and it was more of the same with Jeff Babb and Jason Carwardine going close each on two occasions.
When Torpoint did threaten, the Tavistock defence well marshalled by Graeme Kirkup held firm.
Ten minutes from time Tavistock were awarded a dubious penalty, but Andy Parnowski stepped up to send Mark Henwood in the Torpoint goal the wrong way.
Three up and coasting, a genuine penalty appeal was ignored by the referee five minutes from time. However, it was left to the skills of Jeff Babb to finish the affair with panache. Great control and run from skipper Nathan Blamey saw him beat two players before putting Babb free just inside the penalty box and with a swerve and shuffle he danced his way through the Torpoint defence, created space and chipped the Torpoint keeper.
Tavistock: Andy Meads, Lee Beer, James Cole, Graeme Kirkup, Andy Parnowski, Darren Babb, Nathan Blamey (capt.); Mark Wall, Jeff Babb, Jason Carwardine (Steve Daymond 81min), Tony Thirlby (Chris Gott 46min). Subs not used: Craig Hodge, Robbie Hawkins.