Friendly

Tavistock ladies 2

Dart ladies 0

TAVISTOCK captain Laura Armstrong scored twice in the first half to give her side the victory in this friendly match against Dart.

The home side had a new look side with the return of forward Jo Gaspar following injury, midfielder Sarah Payne playing her first game of the season and a first team debut for Mount Kelly College student Olivia Moore.  

Tavistock looked confident on the ball and created some good chances early on but were unable to convert them into goals with the Dart keeper in fine form. The breakthrough came when Armstrong fired a powerful shot in the bottom corner; the captain doubled her goal tally when she received the ball from Becky Lamb with her back to goal before a quick turn to sweep the ball past the keeper.  

The home side continued to press in the second half and created some half chances in front of goal; Fenwick shot just wide before having another attempt on goal deflected over the bar following some last ditch defending from the visitors.  

n Tavistock ladies resume their league fixtures next week at home to Okehampton.

Tavistock men 4

Old Plymouth Mannameadians 1

THIS eagerly anticipated game lived up to the pre match expectation with the home side looking to prove their credentials against their higher league opposition as they keep pushing towards this season's likely promotion.

OPMs dominated the early possession but despite having the majority of the ball they were unable to create any clear chances in front of goal.  

It was the home side who took the lead, the goal credited to Ollie Richards who had broken through the visitors' defence before pulling the ball back, only for it to be deflected off a defender's stick and past Steve Payne in the OPM's goal.  

Si Fenwick doubled Tavistock's lead with a powerful shot that beat Payne at his near post.

OPMs came back and looked to hit the home side on the break; although at times they were able to break through the Reds' midfield they were unable to penetrate the defence which included regular second team players Tom Hanson and club chairman Phil Honey, both players looking solid in defence and comfortable in possesion.

With both teams competing in midfield the next goal of the game was likely to prove crucial. Fenwick for Tavistock found Dom Stanbury in midfield and his solo run saw him beat four players before calmly slotting the ball past the advancing Payne. Although the home side went in 3-0 up at half time the main difference between the teams was that the Reds had been more clinical in front of goal.  

OPMs came out the quicker of the two teams and scored within five minutes capitalising on a rare mistake from the Tavistock defence.

The second half proved to an even contest but it was the Reds who scored the only other goal in the game; Richards picked up the ball on the left, being forced away from goal but the Tavistock forward scored with a well struck reverse stick shot across goal.  

The win against a higher league opposition will give Tavistock another confidence boost.