Southern two

East Devon 2

Tavistock Men's Firsts 5

TAVISTOCK went into this game knowing things would not be easy — although the reds won the reverse fixture 11-0, the home side had a full squad and were clearly looking to improve on the result from earlier in the season.  

The home side started quickly, applying pressure to all the the Tavistock players but the league leaders showed their quality and hit East Devon with two quick goals.  

Will Jones scored the first scoring from a tight angle following good work from fellow forward Ollie Richards. It was Richards who went from provider to scorer shortly after when his persistence was rewarded with a goal.  

East Devon looked to hit back and get a goal before half time; with Tim Fowler controlling the midfield and looking the most likely East Devon player to create something, the home side scored from a penalty corner just before half time.   

As predicted East Devon came out looking to score the equaliser and they got the goal in the first five minutes of the second half.  When an aerial pass was taken down the Tavistock players stopped an East Devon player won possession of the ball; despite Tavistock feeling aggrieved the umpire did not blow the whistle for what they saw as an infringement, the home side went on to capitalised and scored the equalising goal.  

Both sides continued to attack but without creating any clear-cut chances. Tavistock almost scored when forward Si Fenwick flicked a penalty corner high to the right, only for it to be spectacularly cleared off the line by Fowler.  The next penalty corner did result in a goal when Fenwick slipped the ball to Berry, who passed it back to Fenwck who rounded the keeper and flicked into the goal.

Tavistock could have scored a couple more goals but the home defence were able to deal with the half chances created.  

A quick counter-attack led to Dom Stanbury finding Ollie Richards unmarked on the left hand side of the D; Richards took a touch before firing the ball past the keeper.

Richards then completed his hat-trick after another counter attack; Fenwick slipped the ball to Richards who ghosted past the keeper and flicked the ball past the defender on the line.  

Tavistock played without Alex Shephard, captain Tom Honey and forward Barney Megicks who were unavailable; this, combined with a strong performance from East Devon, meant the league leaders had to fight for the three points.

The Tavistock defence of Graham, Carr, Wood, Marchant and Hutchings was as tight as ever and were able to deal confidently with the attacking threat of the home side.  

The win means that if other results go their way Tavistock could clinch promotion next week with a win at home to United Services.