Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

St Austell 5

Tavistock AFC 1

THIS game was over as a contest after 36 minutes during which the Lambs conceded four goals.

The visitors started slowly and the home team took full advantage of this lack lustre opening as they gifted the hosts three of the four goals due to dreadful marking by the defence.

The first came as early as the 12th minute when a long throw in was not dealt with, and slack marking allowed Lee Whetter to flick on, for Chris Phillips, who shot home from seven yards. The second came ten minutes later when a break down the right allowed Damon Mulready to cross and find Mike Body in oceans of space to fire low past goalkeeper Andy Meeds.

In the 26th minute, with the visiting defence again dragged out of position, the ball fell to Mike Body who fired in a cross that deflected off Dave Hallett and fly past Meeds to make it three.

The Lambs then started to chase the game and went close when both Mike Dalley and Levi Landricombe both had chances to test the home keeper, but both attempts were easily dealt with. The visitors were again undone in the 36th minute when Jay Hill sent over a cross from the left that found Dan Nancarrow completely unmarked and he headed home with ease.

The Lambs did make a better fist of it in the second half. Playing with the wind, they pulled a goal back on the hour when Landricombe made amends for an earlier miss, by running clear of the home defence before firing past Garry Penhaligon from ten yards. The visitor's were enjoying a good spell at this stage and had a chance to reduce the arrears but Landricombe fired over when well placed.

Play was fairly even until the when in the 73rd minute when Ashley Menhenick was adjudged to have pushed Mike Body inside the penalty area and the referee pointed to the spot.

The Lambs battled to the end, without really causing the home team too many concerns and on the day ran out worthy winners.

This poor performance puts the Lambs at the wrong end of the table, and if things are not turned around quickly the club will be in a serious relegation battle from now to the end of the season.