Tavistock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Ilfracombe Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
THE wait of 50 years seemed well worth it when the Lambs supporters were left celebrating an incredible victory at the final whistle at Langsford Park.
This was Tavistock?s first ever FA Vase tie, their only other excursion into National Cup competitiions being the FA Cup, and they achieved it in some style over their opponents from the Screwfix Direct First Division.
Daniel Fadida went agonisingly close in the first minute but the visitors responded with Steve Burns forcing a good save out of Andy Meeds.
Tavistock opened the scoring after 17 minutes as Duncan Duthie?s long-range free-kick saw ?keeper Danny Turton fumble the ball.
Paul Adcock?s follow-up effort was blocked but Fadida was alert enough to react the fastest and knock the ball over the line.
Three minutes later Kevin Parker did well to keep the ball in play on the right touchline before releasing Chris Tilbury who laid the ball into Alan Yendall?s path for the midfielder to place his shot past Turton from the edge of the box.
Meeds had to be alert to push Reid Ecclestone?s effort over the bar before the visitors pulled a goal back.
Pete Varley?s free-kick was turned around his post by Meeds but from the resultant corner Kevin Pickard headed the ball in off a Lambs defender.
Tavistock restored their two-goal advantage on the stroke of half-time when Chris Tilbury?s cross was dropped by Turton for Adcock to stab home from close range.
Parker went on a solo run, straight from the second half restart, to force a corner from which Pete Southcott headed home.
Ilfracombe did not lie down and Meeds had to pull out another fine save to deny Burns and it was from the subsequent corner that Tavistock broke upfield through Parker who laid the ball in for Adcock to score his second of the game.
Within a minute Fadida had followed suit by shooting home from the edge of the box as Tavistock were rampant.
Their seventh followed on the hour Duthie strode out of defence to smash home a great 30 yard drive.
Ifracombe replied a minute later when Keith Cornish was bundled over in the area for Varley to score from the penalty spot.
Team: Andy Meeds, Darren Halfyard, Duncan Duthie, Pete Southcott, Craig Hodge, Alan Yendall (capt), James Steer, Chris Tilbury (sub Adrian Payne 68m), Paul Adcock (sub Tom Barwell 72m), Kevin Parker, Daniel Fadida (sub Kevin McShane, 72m). Subs not used Martin Biles and Darren Wooley.
Forthcoming fixtures: Saturday: Carlsberg South Western League, home to Wadebridge 3pm. P&D away to Horrabridge in the George Gillan Cup, kick off 2.30pm.
Sunday 19: Tavistock Ladies, away to Ilfracombe, 2.30pm. Tavistock U18s home to Bodmin, 2pm.
l Action between Tavistock and
Ilfracombe Town.