FA Cup

Bitton 7

Tavistock AFC 0

THE Lambs crashed out of the FA Cup as they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of a good Bitton team who play in the Western League — a tier higher in the football period than the visitors.

The trip up to Gloucester was a nightmare for the West Devon team, having left in plenty of time, there was traffic congestion on the motorway which resulted in the team not arriving at the ground until only 15 minutes before kick off.

The visitors were without Dave Hallett, not available, and Lewis Daw, thigh injury.

The game started at a fast pace with both teams playing some fine football, with the game flowing from end to end. Tavistock’s Josh Grant had an effort that flashed inches wide of the target.

Lamb’s keeper Josh Oak was then called upon to tip a fine effort from Mateus over the bar.

Play remained even but it was Bitton who broke the deadlock on the half hour when Mateus followed after a ball hit the post to slot the ball home.

Just as the Lambs were getting back into the game they suffered a major setback when, as Oak came out to make clearance, he lost his footing on the wet surface, this allowed Harris to take that ball past him and roll the ball into an empty net.

Back came the Lambs. Grant went close with a fine glancing header which flashed inches wide.

This got worse for the Lambs shortly after the interval when Egan fired home from a fine pass by Harris. The Lambs were now forced to push more men forward to try and reduce the arrears. This left them open to counterattacks by the home team.

It was a counter-attack that saw the Lambs’ defence short at the back, a beautiful pass split open the visitors’ defence and Egan found himself in on goal; he rounded the advancing Josh Oak before passing to Bament to finish.

Another swift counter attack minutes later opened up the Lambs’ defence and Bament was on the score sheet again when he rifled home from 18 yards. Things got even worse for the visitors when Best produced a beautiful cross for Osman to head home the sixth.

Bament then completed his hat-trick to complete a miserable afternoon for the Lambs.

This was a very disappointing performance from the Lambs. It was a game that they need to forget and one of those days when nothing went right from the outset.

There was nothing to choose between the two teams for the opening half hour until the home team opened the scoring. The third goal just after the interval was the killer blow, after this the Lambs seemed to lose their discipline and shape and got punished for any error by some clinical finishing by the home team.

The manager will need to lift the team and get them back in the right frame of mind before the next fixture.

Tavistock kick-off their season with away point

Carlsberg South West peninsula league

Godolphin Athletic 2

Tavistock AFC 2

TAVISTOCK AFC first team were without several key players for their opening league fixture of the season – goalkeeper Josh Oak through sickness, along with the Tallin brothers and Dan Evans not available and Lewis Daw through injury. This meant that influential midfielder Dave Hallett had to play at centre back with Warren Daw.

The Lambs started brightly and almost took the lead in the third minute when a fine move saw Tyler Elliot’s effort turned away for a corner kick. Josh Grant then flashed a header inches wide of the target.

The home team then saw an effort well saved by Moore in the visitors’ goal to deny Willmott from opening the scoring.

The Lambs took a deserved lead in the 14th minute when a fine passing move resulted in Josh Grant getting on the end of a fine cross to slot the ball into the net. Ten minutes later Jack Crago saw his thunderbolt shot cannon back off the post and scrambled clear by the home defence.

The home team levelled the score on the half hour when some poor defending by the Lambs resulted in a shot rebounding back off the keeper into the path of Lowry, who calmly slotted the ball home from close range.

Tavistock continued to have the greater share of possession creating some good chances but some resolute defending, which included two goal line clearances, kept the scores level at the interval.

The Lambs continued to have the better of the exchanges in the second half. On the hour the visitors regained the lead when Jack Crago was brought down in the penalty area. Glynn Hobbs made no mistake as he rifled the spot kick home. Nine minutes later the Lambs were awarded a free kick 24 yards from goal, Hobbs’ fierce effort was brilliantly turned over the bar by Fearn in the home goal.

In the 75th minute, against the run of play, Godolphin levelled the score with a stunning goal, when Lowry picked the ball up on the angle of the penalty area, he unleashed an unstoppable shot that arched its way into the far top corner of the goal.

Tavistock continued to press for a winning goal but were again denied by another two goal line clearances and resolute defending by the home team.

The Lambs will be disappointed that they did not come away with the victory they deserved, but there are many positives that can be taken from this game.