TAVISTOCK AFC 4

CHIPPING SODBURY 3

TAVISTOCK produced a sensational last 15 minutes to seal a hard earned victory against a team that belied their position at the basement of the league.

The Lambs got off to the perfect start scoring in the opening minute when Tom Strike forced the ball home from a corner kick taken by Dave Hallett.

The visitors responded well and levelled the score when a clearance from a set piece fell to Birman some 25 yards from goal and he unleashed an unstoppable thunderbolt that nestled in the far corner of the net.

The home side continued to find it difficult to get their normal fluent passing game going against a well marshalled visitors’ defence.

Just before the half hour mark the visitors produced a fine move that opened up the home defence for Moore to fire the ball home from 12 yards.

Although not playing at their normal high tempo, the Lambs did create some scoring opportunities but really effective defending by Chipping Sodbury saw efforts blocked and, some really good goalkeeping to deprive strikes from Jordan Annear, Jack Crago and Josh Grant. The visitors went in at half time leading by two goals to one with all to play for.

Early in the second half Callum Watson for Tavistock picked up an injury and Tallan Burns took his place in the middle of the park.

On the hour mark, the visitors increased their advantage, when from a counter attack a poor clearance by the home defence saw the ball fall to Moore just outside the penalty area and he fired the ball low into the corner of the net for 1-3 to the Gloucestershire team.

Tavistock manager Stuart Henderson decided to make a substitution with Alex Cairo replacing defender Tom Strike. The Lambs were now beginning to get the lion’s share of possession; a fine cross in to the six yard area found Jordan Annear but his fine header went inches over the bar.

With fifteen minutes remaining, the Lambs produced a fine move and Dave Hallett provided the perfect cross for Jordan Annear to head home for 2-3. The equaliser came with five minutes remaining; another good move from a free kick saw Josh Grant on hand to provide the perfect finish.

Soon after a great, long defence splitting pass saw Annear latch on to the ball and finished with aplomb ensuring the Lambs took all three valuable points.

Manager Stuart Henderson said: ‘Certainly a million miles from the level we achieved at Brislington the week before but to score three goals in the final minutes typifies the belief, resilience and character of this group of players.’