DJM U16s Rodney Cup
Tavistock Thistles 3
Phoenix City 1
HAVING laboured to beat Phoenix last week, Tavistock made even more hard work of it this week, as the two teams met again.
City made the better start and played the better football, as Thistles struggled to find their composure. Within ten minutes Tavistock were chasing the game as an innocuous looking shot beat Jack Haigh in the Thistles goal.
Thistles tried to claw their way back, with midfielders Jonny Hake, Josh Leeson and Robin Jones searching out the runs of Sam Hortopp and Scott Carr, but the chances they created were wastefully spurned.
It took 30 minutes for Tavistock to play good football and they were rewarded immediately. Quick movement of the ball, from defence to attack, saw Ed Argles play the ball to Carr whose strike was fumbled by the City keeper and Sam Walker was on hand to tap in the rebound.
The introduction of Ben O'Neill and Louis Wilson, after half-time, gave Thistles a better balance and shape, and, while the defensive line of Cadan Lowther, Jay Lambert, Sam Newton and Argles never looked like being beaten; at the other end Thistles never looked like scoring, as a succession of chances were saved, cleared off the line or went the wrong side the woodwork.
With moments to go in normal time Thistles keeper Haigh was tested as he scrambled across his goal to beat away an ambitious shot from near the halfway line to ensure the match went into extra time.
Tavistock's superior fitness told. Walker claimed his second goal when he chased a seemingly lost cause to pounce on confusion between a Phoenix defender and the keeper to force the ball over the line. Leeson made the scoreline more respectable when he swept a clearance from the City keeper back into the unguarded net.
Tavistock Thistles U14s 3
Saltash Utd Juniors 4
THISTLES were involved in another entertaining match on a glorious sunny day at Lamerton. Despite a change in the defensive line-up, Thistles found themselves trailing by two goals. From a Saltash corner a miss-hit shot drifted over Thistles' keeper into the net. Saltash increased their lead when they broke through the middle and their striker placed the ball past the keeper.
Thistles hit back when Corey Hancock, who again received the man of the match award, burst through two attempted tackles to present Will Hall with the easiest of tap-ins. Soon after, a long clearance by Thistles' keeper, Roger Blandford was collected by Hancock who coolly lobbed the keeper for the equaliser.
In the second half, Saltash went ahead with another curling miss-shot shot from the left which eluded the Thistles' keeper. Then after more good work from Corey, Will Lane picked up the ball between the halfway line and Saltash's 18-yard box, steadied himself and sent an astutely directed shot into the top corner of the net.
It was all to play for in this riveting cup tie. Connor Hall was having a terrific game at the heart of the Thistles' defence and was ably assisted by Mikey Henderson and Kieran Calvert, who was again showing speed of thought in his left back role.
Saltash grabbed the winner from a scrappy interchange inside the Thistles' box.
So far this season, Thistles have won two and lost two, scoring 20 goals in the four matches.