Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

BODMIN 7

TAVISTOCK AFC 2

TAVISTOCK had to make further changes with the starting line up with Mason Hughes added to the extensive injury list, making the total six unavailable for selection.

It was Bodmin on the front foot from the start, pressing high up the pitch who made it difficult for the Lambs to put any pressure on their defence.

The home team took the lead in the 14th minute when Moody shot low into the corner of the net from 16 yards. Three minutes later Bodmin doubled their lead when Moody was again on hand to fire the ball home from ten yards.

The Lambs reduced the deficit in the 20th minute when Jack Crago was dragged to the ground in the penalty area. Josh Grant stepped up to flash the spot kick home. This lifted the visitors and it was not long before a good move saw Luke Brown find Crago, but his shot was well saved by Harvey.

The visitors continued to find it difficult to get their passing game going with many moves breaking down through a poor pass, or trying to beat one man to many.

Bodmin increased their lead on the half hour when poor marking by the visitors saw Colwell flash the ball home from 14 yards. Minutes later Harvey in the home goal made a fine save bravely diving at the feet of Jack Crago to deny him a scoring opportunity.

Just before the interval, it was game over, when Bodmin scored a fourth goal., when a shot from Colwell took a wicked deflection which looped the ball over Josh Oak into the net.

The second half got even worse for the Lambs when in the 53rd minute Bodmin were awarded a penalty kick when Josh Robins committed a foul in the area. He was sent off following a second yellow card. Former Tavistock AFC striker Glynn Hobbs spot kick was brilliantly saved by Josh Oak.

It was really backs to the wall for the Lambs now, as Bodmin piled on the pressure and

It was not long before Hobbs got in on the act as he made it five just before the hour mark.

Bodmin were making the man advantage pay, in the 75th minute it was Hobbs that finished off a fine move having the easiest of tasks know to slot the ball home from two yards. Three minutes later it was seven for the home team when Steer fired home from twelve yards.

The Lambs reduced the arrears in the closing stages when good work by substitute Bailey Williams resulted in Crago slotting the ball home from ten yards.

This was the poorest performance from a Lambs team for a number of years they were just not at the races. Bodmin took full advantage of the situation and were really up for this game, having suffered a 7-1 defeat at Langsford Park a few weeks ago.

Manager Stuart Henderson said: ‘Ultimately the buck stops with me, and despite this being the first league defeat of the season we have been poor in a few games lately. Every team goes through spells of form even with a large number of players missing through injury as we have at present. The performance was so uncharacteristic of ourselves as a collective group. A very disappointing night.’

EXMOUTH TOWN 1

TAVISTOCK AFC 0

LAMBS’ manager Stuart Henderson made a tactical change to his starting line up, by playing captain Warren Daw in midfield, bringing in debutant Palmer in centre of defence alongside Harry Southcott.

The game started at pace with both teams playing some fine football in blustery conditions. It was the Lambs though that were on the front foot with Josh Grant firing over the bar in the 20th minute.

The game continued to flow from end to end but neither could find the killer touch in front of goal; on the half hour a great move saw Tyler Elliot produce a beautiful cross into the penalty area but Jack Crago’s shot was deflected away for a corner kick.

Two minutes later Josh Oak was make a smart save to deny Cooper from scoring. Three minutes later Grant made a fine break through the middle but Powell in the home goal made an easy save. Another fine move by Tavistock saw Luke Brown’s fierce shot go inches wide of the target.

Exmouth’s best move of the half came in the 40th minute when Merrit produce a perfect cross, but Caven shot well over the bar from the edge of the penalty area.

Just before half time whistle the Lambs missed a golden opportunity to open the scoring; a mistake by the home defence allowed Liam Prynn in on goal, he rounded the keeper but he shot wide of the target from eight yards.

The second period saw the visitors increase the tempo; a good move resulted in Luke Brown firing wide of the target when well placed. Exmouth then headed wide of the target from a corner kick.

On the hour a great move saw Elliot find, Crago his fine cross found Prynn at the far post but his effort was palmed over the bar by Powell in the home goal. Then totally against the run of play Exmouth took the lead in the 70th minute, when Shipton produced a wonderful curling shot from 22 yards into the top corner of the net.

The Lambs pressed for an equaliser and should have at least have levelled the scores but in the last 15 minutes they missed three glorious opportunities.

Warren Daw went inches wide of the target from 20 yards. It was Daw again that saw another fine effort deflected away for a corner kick. The kick saw Palmer head inches over the bar.

With ten minutes to go the Lambs missed a sitter when a terrific passing move opened up the home defence the cross from Tyler Elliot was perfect but Josh Grant blasted his shot wide of the target from ten yards. Both Tallan Burns and Jack Crago had good efforts saved by Powell.

Tavistock were unlucky to lose this game, after being the better team for long periods, and were beaten by one piece of magic out of the blue by Shipton.

Tavistock man of the match was Warren Daw, playing in midfield he won every header and was a significant factor in the Lambs having long spells of possession.

Manager Stuart Henderson said: ‘The performance was much more like ourselves. The lads did everything I asked apart from putting the ball in the net.’