Underhill Group Plymouth & West Devon Combination Senior League Plymouth Rangers 2 Tavistock 2nds 3 ON paper this game looked like a foregone conclusion ? Tavistock Seconds struggling to find points near the bottom of the league and Plymouth Rangers with only one defeat this season. The reality proved to be slightly different From the kick-off both sides cancelled each other out, attacking and defending with equal spirit. Neither team gained the advantage until 20 minutes into the game when a well placed cross from the Rangers? left wing produced a fine volley from their striker, giving the Tavistock goalkeeper absolutely no chance. An immediate reply was necessary and arrived two minutes later with striker Paul Cowling pouncing on a delightful through ball from Craig Hodge and blasting it into the Rangers? net. The start of the second half saw both teams fighting hard for the three points. Neither team was able to break the deadlock until a Tavistock free kick deep in their own half was headed directly into the path of Paul Cowling: 2-1 to Tavistock. Five minutes later, with Tavistock still piling on the pressure Cowling produced a well-deserved hat-trick. With 20 minutes still to go before the final whistle Rangers had no intention of giving up. Fighting hard to regain parity they eventually managed a second goal from a nasty deflection. The last ten minutes of the match saw Tavistock do the sensible thing and shut up shop against a Rangers? sustained attack, holding on to a valuable and well-deserved lead. Return match at home this Saturday.
