Devon Premier Cup

quarter-final

Tavistock 2

Alphington 2

(Tavistock won 5-3 on penalties)

TAVISTOCK were without first choice regulars Andy Parnowski, Wayne Tregenza, Anthony Thirlby and John Gosling ‚ and for the first half it showed.

In the second minute the visitors forced two corners and only an adjudged foul saved the Lambs from going a goal down.

In the sixth minute, Darren Babb was adjudged to have handled the ball on the edge of the penalty area and from the resulting free kick, Nick Gott bent the ball around the Lambs' wall to put the visitors one up.

Three minutes later Tavistock almost conceded a second goal when an angled shot from eight yards was blocked on the line — the rebounding ball fell to Darren Pengelly who blasted high and wide.

In the 21st minute, Tavistock were awarded a penalty but skipper Nathan Blamey unexpectedly blasted wide.

But the second half was to see the change the entire Tavistock section in the grandstand called for.

In the 70th minute, manager Chris Abbott sent Craig Hodge up front to accompany Steve Daymond who a minute later set up Hodge, turning to shoot home in the penalty area and level affairs.

Tavistock heaped attack after attack on the visitors' defence, but apart from hitting the woodwork, the action was left to the referee's pencil who in a 30-minute period booked four players.

Eight minutes into extra time Jaimie Carwardine replaced Daymond and ten minutes later Wall and Hawkins replaced Gott and Kirkham.

It took 26 minutes of extra time before another goal. A deft Mark Wall pass outside to the rampaging Rob Hawkins saw his twice taken cross collected by Jaimie Carwardine who set up Craig Hodge. His slightly deflected drive produced his second of the game and put Tavistock ahead.

The lead lasted under two minutes, when Andy Meeds in the Tavistock goal dropped a cross under pressure and Hodge's clearance rebounded off Jamie Densham and into the net.

Both sides had one last opportunity to steal the win in a pulsating 90 seconds but it was to the penalty spot the match was to be decided.

Tavistock started with Craig Hodge firing home with ease, thus completing his hat-trick but Densham's reply rebounded off the bottom left upright. Skipper Nathan Blamey scored with a twice taken penalty, followed by Jaimie and then brother Jason Carwardine all converting and Alphington players replying. Up stepped Robbie Hawkins for Tavistock's fifth penalty and he cheekily chipped Adrian Pullin in the Alphington goal to put the matter beyond doubt.

So another semi-final beckons for the Lambs but they have to wait to see whom they meet as their likely opponents game succumbed to the weather.

Man of the match: Craig Hodge.

l Saturday, Carlsberg SWL, home to Millbrook. Kick-off 2.30pm.