Exeter University 4

Tavistock Ladies Firsts 2

A DISAPPOINTING away defeat meant Tavistock relinquished top spot in the league and dropped to third place behind their match day opponents and Plymouth University.

After an even start it was Tavistock captain Laura Armstrong who converted a penalty stroke to give her side the lead. The stroke was awarded for a foot on the line which denied forward Becky Lamb from scoring her 6th goal of the season. Lamb had been played through on goal by an incisive long ball from left back Susannah Boulle, the long ball and counter attack was a tactic that Tavistock used effectively throughout the match to break through the defence of the students.

The home side hit back almost immediately from a penalty corner, this was followed by three quick goals giving the students a 4-1 lead.

Not letting their heads drop, Tavistock attempted to play their style of quick passing and counter-attacking hockey and were almost rewarded when in-form striker Sarah Law broke free after another well executed through ball, this time from skipper Armstrong.  Law was unable to convert on this occasion due to good play from the home side's keeper.

Tavistock did get their second goal just before the break when centre back George Patterson converted a penalty corner.  The second half continued in much the same way with both teams very evenly matched in all departments.  Tavistock again hit the home side on the break thanks to Patterson's pin-point pass to Lamb, unfortunately the Reds couldn't convert from the resulting penalty corner.  

The home side also had chances to score but were denied by keeper Zoe Viggers and player of the match Elz Mills-Hicks, who saved a penalty corner attempt off the line. Mills-Hicks had another superb game in her new, more attacking role in midfield.