Emirates FA Cup preliminary round

Tavistock AFC 2

Frome Town 1

TAVISTOCK AFC welcomed their visitors from the Southern League Division South and West.

Jack Ord came in as goalkeeper for the Lambs who also included unexpected new signing Jordan Annear from Weston-Super-Mare.

It was the visitors who had the early chances as O’Loughlin blasted an early free kick well over the cross bar; Ord then saved well from an effort by Hailston. The Lambs gained the advantage a minute later; Annear got himself to the by line and into the penalty area but was sent sprawling and the referee pointed to the spot. Jack Crago put the ball beyond keeper Brown.

The lead lasted just five minutes when good play from the Robins saw a cross come in for Hailston who headed home from close range. It set it up for a close encounter throughout the remainder of the game.

Tavistock’s Crago flashed a shot across the goal and then from a Davies free kick for the visitors, the Lambs broke quickly for Luke Brown to send Crago away; he crossed the ball but there was no one to get on the end of it; Liam Prynn then turned sharply to put Annear in on goal but he was given offside.

Crago then saw his effort go straight at the Frome keeper; Annear went close for Tavistock before Ord saved well from O’Loughlin while another Crago cross just evaded Prynn before the end of the first half.

The second half was five minutes old when the visitors almost took the lead. Cottle lifted the ball over Ord on the edge of the area but Josh Robbins scampered back to clear an awkward dropping ball off the goal line. Hailston then went close for Frome and the Lambs survived another penalty appeal on the hour. The Lambs had the better of the last 15 minutes; Annear hit a post and from the rebound crossed for Prynn to shoot over from close range. Davies then had a chance for the visitors but shot wide.

With 10 minutes remaining Tallan Burns replaced Annear. Brown and the home crowd thought he had then got the winner as the ball went past keeper Brown but it lacked pace and he was able to smother it on the goal line.

However, the Lambs were not going to be denied as moments later a through ball from Burns found Brown – he jinked and turned in the area and this time his effort flew into the bottom corner of the net to set Langsford Park into raptures with just eight minutes to go.

Frome searched for the equaliser but again Ord foiled them as he pushed another effort away to send the Lambs into the first FA Cup qualifying round. The Lambs are now drawn at home to Shepton Mallett/ Melksham Town on Saturday, September 7, kick-off 3pm.