Carlsberg South West Peninsula League premier

Tavistock AFC 3

Holsworthy 1

TAVISTOCK move within two points of second placed Buckland Athletic, with a game in hand, after this hard earned victory against a resolute Holsworthy side.

Early exchanges were fairly even with neither side creating any clear-cut opportunities. The Lambs were struggling to find their normal high tempo passing game, due to the visitors pressing the player with the ball. In the 27th minute Jimmy Steer provided a defence-splitting pass to put Mark Conday in on goal, but his lob over the keeper hit the crossbar.

Holsworthy then created their best chances of the half when sloppy play by the home defence allowed Levi Landricombe and Allan Clarke to go close.

The first half remained goal-less, and the home side's performance was not up to the standard required.

It was apparent that the Lambs' manager had a few harsh words at half-time, as within the first minute of the second half Chris Menhenick opened the scoring when he rose majestically to meet Ryan Honey's superb free kick and plant an unstoppable header past Chidley in the visitors' goal.

The second followed eight minutes later when Glyn Hobbs finished off a fine passing move by rifling the ball into the net from 16 yards.

The Lambs continued to put pressure on the Holsworthy defence and should have doubled the goal tally, but somehow missed two golden opportunities.

Firstly, some really good work by Simon Skews, who provided a magnificent cross from the left wing, found Mark Conday unmarked three yards from goal, but he put his header wide of the target.

A few minutes later from a corner taken by Ryan Honey the ball fell kindly to Matt David, who was free but somehow managed to scuff his shot wide of the target from five yards.

The Lambs then became complacent and it looked as though they felt the had the game won and their play fell back to the poor standard set in the first half.

The missed opportunities seemed to spur on the visitors, who for a period took the game to the home side; they were rewarded in the 72nd minute when some slack marking by the home defence allowed a hopeful punt downfield to find Landricombe unmarked, who slotted the ball past the advancing Meeds from the edge of the area.

A game that should have been put out of the visitors' reach by mid-way through the half was now in the balance, and but for an outstanding save by Andy Meeds the visitors could have equalised.

It was not until the last minute that the points were secured when Glyn Hobbs picked up a ball on the right wing; with great skill he went past seven players before putting the ball into the net at the second attempt, after Chidley and a defender combined to keep out his first effort.

The overall team performance by Tavistock was disappointing.

The standard of play in the 20 minute spell at the start of the second half will be required for the full 90 minutes this Saturday against Plymouth Parkway, who are just above them in the league. However, the three point keep the Lambs' challenge for honours on course.

• This Saturday Tavistock first team are at home to Plymouth Parkway, kick-off 3pm. Tavistock Reserves visit Launceston, kick-off 2.30pm.