Football Association Vase

TAVISTOCK AFC 1

BUCKLAND ATHLETIC 2

THE Lambs’ FA Vase dream came to end last Saturday when they lost their second round tie to Buckland Athletic in an evenly contested game.

The game changing moments came in the opening 15 minutes of each half. In the first half a defensive error and losing possession put Cooper in on goal, he was fouled by Tom Strike. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick and as there was no covering defender Strike was shown a straight red card, reducing the Lambs’ to ten men. Groves made no mistake with the spot kick

This forced Tavistock manager Stuart Henderson to make a tactical change replacing striker Liam Prynn with defender Warren Daw to take Strike’s place in the middle of the back four.

With the extra man Buckland were now having the better of the exchanges and doubled their advantage in the 23rd minute when a fine move saw Bowker and Groves create room for Skett to slot the ball home.

The Lambs created a couple of half chances but could not reduce the deficit before the interval.

Early in the second half the home side were awarded a penalty when Buckland’s centre Harrison committed a foul, a second bookable offence in the penalty area, and was given his marching orders. Jack Crago stepped up but his effort was brilliantly saved by Griffiths.

The Lambs were now getting back in the game putting the visitors’ defence under pressure but they were finding it difficult to break down a resilient Buckland defence.

With twelve minutes remaining Buckland had a second player sent off, when Gardenell received a second yellow for bad tackle on Callum Watson.

Henderson then made a substitution with Luke Brown replacing Callum Watson. The Lambs were now probing for that elusive opening goal with Josh Grant and Jordan Annear going close and both Jack Crago and Luke Brown forcing Griffiths to make two fine save.

The Tavistock manager then made his final substitutions with 10 minutes remaining Alex Cairo replaced Ben Cross, who was soon in the action creating a fine chance for Jack Crago but his effort was turned away for a corner kick.

The Lambs finally got their opening goal when from a corner kick the ball fell to Jordan Annear who flashed the ball home.

Tavistock continued to put the visitors’ defence under constant pressure but Buckland held firm with Griffiths making three more terrific saves to deny the Lambs getting the equaliser they deserved.

Manager Stuart Henderson expressed his disappointment to exit the competition.

‘The early sending off did not help and to concede a second was always going to make it difficult. I felt we did not deserve to lose the game but it was not our day, having two efforts cleared off the line towards the end.’

Tavistock man of the match was Dave Hallett on a day where too many players under performed the midfield duo of Watson and Hallett worked tirelessly.