Team Solent 2

Tavistock AFC 0

TAVISTOCK made the long trip to Southampton to play Team Solent, last Tuesday evening and with club captain Lewis Daw unavailable for selection.

The Lambs started brightly producing a fine move but Josh Grant’s shot was easily saved by Banda in the home goal. Three minutes later a great ball from Dave Hallett found Ben Cross; his first time pass put Jack Crago in but his shot was blocked, the ball fell to Luke Brown who shot went just over the bar.

The first real threat from the home team came in the tenth minute when, following a fine move, Wilson shot wide of the target from 20 yards. Two minutes later the Lambs were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area when Luke Brown was fouled. Dave Hallett’s fine effort looked destined for the top corner but was superbly tipped over the bar by Banda.

The Lambs were now controlling the play, putting the home defence under considerable pressure. From a corner kick in the 15th minute taken by Dave Hallett, Warren Daw produced a powerful header but he was denied by another brilliant save by Banda.

Five minutes later Tegan Rosenquest made a terrific run down the right, gliding pass three defenders; his pass found Jack Crago in on goal but he was adjudged offside.

On the half hour Tegan Rosenquest made another fine penetrating run into the heart of the home defence but his fierce shot was blocked by a defender. Seven minutes later Luke Brown jinked his way into the penalty area but his shot on the turn was inches wide of the target.

Having controlled the game the Lambs were caught by the sucker punch when completely against the run of play the home team took the lead. The visitors lost possession in the middle of the park; a quick counter attack saw a fine pass to put Thorn in on goal — Josh Oak lost out in who was going to to the ball first, so Thorn calmly placed  his shot into the far corner of the net from 16 yards.

The Lambs continued to create openings, playing some fine football and three minutes before the interval a terrific effort from Grant thundered back off the cross bar.

Team Solent forced their first corner kick just before the interval which was easily dealt with by the Lambs’ defence.

Team Solent forced a corner kick from the kick off of the second half, this was easily dealt with by the Lambs’ defence. In the 50th minute the goal frame came to the rescue for the second time in the game when another fine move saw Daw’s fine effort cannon back off the post with the ball once again falling kindly for a home defender to clear. Three minutes later Crago spurned a good chance to level the scores as his effort was easily saved.

On the hour another great move saw the Lambs penetrate the home defence  but Warren Daws powerful shot was magnificently turned away for a corner kick, which was cleared.

The Lambs continued to dominate possession with the home team once again relying on counter attacks. One such attack resulted in Josh Oak making a smart save to deny Wilson increasing their lead.

In the 75th minute a good move saw the ball find Crago on the left, he cut inside and shot, which looked destined for the far top corner of the net, but Banda produced another breath taking save to palm the ball around the post for a corner kick.

With Lambs now pushing more and more men forward allowed Team Solent to more effective in their counter attacks. Josh Oak  was forced to make a really good save in the 80th minute to deny Wallace.

Banda made another great save to deny Tegan Rosenquest from scoring. Then the home team virtually made game safe, when once again against the balance of play, they scored their second. A good counter attacking move saw two players exchange passes that exposed the shortage of numbers at the back, giving Thorn the opportunity to slot the ball past the advancing Josh Oak into the corner of the net.

Tavistock manager Stuart Henderson made changes in an effort to get back into the game with Jack Tribble and Jake Miller both having efforts well saved by Banda.

In the dying minutes the Lambs were denied by the woodwork for the third time when, from a corner kick, the ball fell to Jack Crago who hit the post, but once again the ball fell kindly for the home as a defender cleared the lose ball.

The Lambs continued their all out attack forcing several corners but the home team saw the remainder out and go through to the next round of the competition.

Tavistock can be proud of their overall performance, dom-inating the game for long periods. Had it not been for the outstanding performance of Team Solent’s Maltese international goal keeper Banda, and on the occasions he was beaten the woodwork came to their rescue.

The team gave their all, on another day this performance would have resulted in a comfortable victory. ‘Lady Luck’ was definitely in the Team Solent camp for this game.

Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Tavistock AFC 1

Plymouth Argyle Reserves 0

TAVISTOCK AFC bounced back from their disappointing defeat in the F A Vase, with a win against Plymouth Argyle Reserves.

The Lambs were without talented midfielder Luke Brown who badly twisted his ankle in the F A Vase game, and is likely to be out for several weeks. Tyler Elliot returned to the starting line up having recovered from his injury.

The game got off to a fast start with both teams playing some fine football. It was the home team that created the first scoring opportunity when in the third minute a fine move saw the ball find Warren Daw on the edge of the penalty area but his fierce effort went just over the bar.

Two minutes later the Lambs gave away a soft free kick just outside the penalty area but Jeffcott’s effort was well wide of the target. The visitors then produced a period where they played some delightful football in the middle of the park, having the greater share of possession. The Lambs’ defence were in fine form and dealt with any threat on their goal, the closest Argyle coming to scoring was a powerful drive from Lowless, which was well wide of the target.

The home team then began to get back into the game and almost took the lead on the half hour. A really good move resulted in a powerful shot from Josh Grant which was on target but was deflected away for a corner kick off Bentley.

Shortly afterwards home keeper Josh Oak made a fine save to deny Rooney from opening the scoring. Seven minutes later the Lambs took the lead when a fine move saw the ball find Grant, his powerful shot from 18 yards took a slight deflection off Tyler Elliot into the corner of the net.

Just before the interval a penetrating run by Tegan Rosenquest opened up the visitor’s defence, his cross found Jack Crago, but he shot wide of the target when well placed.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with both teams playing some delightful football in the middle of the park, but neither side created any good scoring opportunities as both defences were in great form.

The Lambs did force several corner kicks, but missed the normal aerial power provided by Lewis Daw who was not available for selection.

Argyle missed a good opportunity to level the scores with five minute remaining, when from a free kick the ball fell to Jeffcott, but his shot went way wide of the target.

The Lambs saw out the remainder of the game to record a victory over a team that is also in the title chase. It was a strong performance by Argyle who made it very difficult for the Lambs to break down a well drilled defence. The Lambs just edged it over the 90 minutes and deserved the victory.

This was another good all round team performance with everyones playing their part in order to gain a hard earned victory against a talented Argyle team. The man of the match was Tyler Elliot, on his return to the team from injury, he was a threat to the visiting defence, and then had a hand in the deciding goal.