Carlsberg South West Peninsular premier

Buckland Athletic 3

Tavistock AFC 1

TAVISTOCK put in another good performance when they visited Buckland Athletic, last season's champions and current league leaders, and were unlucky not to share the points.

With a little more composure and better finishing the score line would have been very different.

All the goals were scored in the first half. The hosts started at a tremendous pace and went really close early on when Liam Mosely fired over in the 20th minute, and Antony Lynch headed against a post with Meeds well beaten. After weathering the initial onslaught the visitors improved and put more pressure on the home defence, with Levi Landricombe going close with a fine strike.

However Buckland were not to be denied and in the 39th minute took the lead when Danny Gaze too a short free kick to Shane Gill and his 'scuffed' shot rebounded off a Lambs defender, and fell kindly to Mike Both at the far post for an easy tap in from three yards.

The Lambs came back strongly and deservedly equalised in the 42nd minute when Levi Landricombe was pulled down in the area and the penalty was converted by Neil Kinsman to level the scores.

The scoring continued, two minutes before the break Buckland restored their lead when Danny Lewis played a delightful through ball to finding Gill, who rifled the ball low past Andy Meeds into the corner of the net. Then in time added on in the first half the hosts increased their lead when Liam Drew's cross was handled by a Lambs defender for a penalty, which Lynch dispatched to give the home team a two goal cushion.

The Lambs were much the better side in the second half and really put the champions under a great deal of pressure.

Tavistock had eight strikes at goal in the second period, compared to Buckland's three. The difference being that visiting goal keeper Andy Meeds had to make two tidy saves, while the home keeper never had a save to make as the finishing was woeful, with shots going high and wide of the target.

The Lambs strikers need to find the target and at least make the goalkeeper save.

The Lambs really did deserve something from this good second half performance, when they played some excellent football.

Chances fell for Martyn Sullivan, Dan Pethick and Landricombe, but their luck was out.

Buckland desperately hung on to their lead. The final whistle went with the Lambs in complete control, and came off the field knowing that they should have at least shared the points.

It is important to maintain this level of performance, if we do then the Lambs will pull away from the drop zone.