Tavistock Men?s Hockey 4

Bodmin 3

ON a high after the post-Christmas win over Okehampton, but mindful of the defeat on the previous meeting with Bodmin, Tavistock Hockey Club?s men?s 1st XI knew that they would need a good performance to beat the club just ahead of them in the league.

The game started at an encouraging pace with swift and clean end to end movement of the ball with control maintained in the centre of the pitch by Barratt and Aveyard.

Tavistock were first to open the scoring with a finely placed short corner strike from Kevin Lethbridge, whose father was in the crowd of onlookers.

After a goalmouth scuffle, Ricci Ballard lifted the ball neatly over the keeper to take Tavistock further ahead, but Bodmin responded with a well taken opening goal.

After a well stolen goal by Matthew Way and a strong and accurately taken penalty stroke from Bodmin, Tavistock went into half-time 3-2 ahead.

But they lost their way in the opening quarter of the second half, and it was left to the steadfast defence to maintain the scoreline. As they got back into the game a perfectly timed slip by Matthew Way from a well orchestrated short corner routine enabled Kevin Lethbridge to place a near identical score to his first short corner strike.

Bodmin managed to pull back a goal, in a game that remained exciting from start to finish, leaving Tavistock triumphant.

Man of the match: John Barratt.

Training this Thursday, 7pm to 9 pm at Kelly. Match this Saturday, away to OPM.