CARLSBERG SOUTH WEST PENSINSULA PREMIER

TAVISTOCK AFC 1

CULLOMPTON RANGERS 0

JACK Crago scored the only goal in a hard fought victory for Tavistock AFC against a Cullompton side in fine form.

Jack Ord took over from Josh Oak in goal for a game the Lambs knew would be tough, with the visitors in a fine run of form over the past two months that had seen them climbing to sixth position in the table.

The match on Saturday followed a convincing 4-1 win for the Lambs at Saltash United on Boxing Day.

They started at a fast pace with both teams probing for an early opening goal; play was even in the opening 15 minutes with both teams playing some fine football. Ord was called into action to deny Donahue from opening the scoring before his opposite number Speedhouse-Evans made a good save to deny Dave Hallett.

Tavistock started to apply real pressure on the Cullompton defence and it resulted in them breaking the deadlock in the 23rd minute. A fine move involving three players — Luke Brown and Tallan Burns exchanged passes with the latter providing the final pass to Jack Crago, who beat his defender before flashing the ball home.

Two minutes later a similar move saw Liam Prynn provide a great pass to Crago but this time the ball flashed inches wide of the target.

Having defended well during this period, Cullompton started to look dangerous on the counter attack, forcing a couple of corner kicks; the home defence remained compact and dealt with the threat.

The home team had a couple of half chances to double their lead when a fine effort from Brown was deflected away for a corner before Prynn saw his header well saved by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

Just before the interval another fine raid down the left by Crago saw his fine pass find Warren Daw, who flashed the ball over the bar as the whistle went for half time.

Tavistock increased the tempo in the second half and it was Crago who flashed a shot inches wide of the target from 25 yards.

Back came Cullompton as Greening hit a shot from just outside the penalty area, which went inches wide of the home goal.

The Lambs could not find a second goal to give them a cushion; they created several half chances but a well drilled Cullompton defence put bodies on the line with some last ditch tackles and blocking shots that were goal bound. All this lead to a nervy end to the game for the home side as the visitors always looked dangerous on the counter attack.

The home defence however, was compact and in fine form. Jack Ord’s handling in goal was excellent and this allowed the Lambs to see out the remainder of the game to record a hard earned victory against a good Cullompton team.

This was another excellent game of football for the supporters. The Lambs were organised at the back and were always threatening with their forward play and fully deserved their hard earned victory, which keeps the team in contention with leader Plymouth Argyle Reserves, with games in hand.

Every player can be proud, with both Matt David and Ben Davies superb at the heart of the defence, Dave Hallett was once again excellent in the middle of the park and Jack Crago was causing the visitors’ defence problems throughout with his pace and trickery.

The man of the match was Jack Crago, for his all round performance and that all important goal.

South West Peninsula premier

P W D L Pts

Plymouth Argyle 24 18 2 4 56

Tavistock AFC 19 15 2 2 47

Exmouth Town 20 14 3 3 45

St Austell 21 14 2 5 44

Falmouth Town 22 12 3 7 39

Cullompton Rangers 20 12 2 6 38

Millbrook 24 11 4 9 37

Saltash United 18 11 3 4 36

Bodmin Town 18 11 2 5 35

Torpoint Athletic 23 10 5 8 35

Newquay 25 9 4 12 31

Helston Athletic 20 7 4 9 25

Ivybridge Town 19 6 2 11 20

Elburton Villa 17 5 2 10 17

Callington Town 22 4 5 13 17

Godolphin Athletic 18 4 4 10 16

Camelford 26 5 1 20 16

Launceston 18 4 2 12 14

Sticker 26 0 4 22 4