THIS cup started at a high tempo, with both teams playing some fine football.

It was the visitors that had the best chance to open the scoring early on when a good counter attack, following a Lambs’ corner kick, saw Rowe provide the perfect cross from the left to find Loudon, but he shot wide of the target from four yards.

This stirred the home team into action and forced several corner kicks in a short period of time. Their best chance to level the scores came in the 11th minute when after a great run by Jack Crago his terrific cross into the penalty area was partially cleared; the ball fell to Josh Robins, but he flashed the ball over the bar when well placed.

Back came Ivybridge and another break saw Rowe’s shot deflected over the bar. The Lambs should have taken the lead in the 18th minute when a good move saw the ball find Luke Brown on the edge of the penalty area; his close control saw him glide past two defenders, only to see him drag his shot wide of the target from ten yards. Three minutes later former Tavistock keeper Piper made a great save from a powerful Lewis Daw header.

In the 23rd minute Ivybridge created a good chance when, following good work by Loudon, his pass found Stevens who blazed the ball wide of the target.

Piper then pulled off two great saves in a matter of minutes - the first when Jack Crago cut in from the wing and his fierce low shot was palmed away for a corner; then he denied Josh Grant with another great save.

The Lambs paid the penalty for these missed opportunities, as Ivybridge took the lead in the 36th minute, when a really good move resulted in the ball finding Loudon unmarked and he calmly fired the ball home from ten yards. Things got worse for the home team as they pushed for an equaliser, when they lost possession, Ivybridge broke quickly and Guild scored with a fine shot that Josh Oak had no chance of stopping. Just before the interval the visitors were reduced to ten men when Guild was shown a straight red card for a bad tackle on Josh Robins. Jack Crago then missed a golden opportunity to reduce the arrears when a fine pass put him in on goal, but Piper just did enough to force him to put his shot wide of the target.

The second half saw the Lambs launch attack after attack on the visitors’ goal. Tegan Rosenquest made a terrific run down the right, his pull back from the dead ball line found Jack Crago, but he fluffed his shot when it looked like it was certain for him to score. Luke Brown then had a fine effort saved by Piper.

The Lambs were now dominating proceedings, but Ivybridge were defending in numbers and the home team were finding it difficult to break their resilience.. However the  constant pressure saw them reduce the arrears in the 63rd minute when another flowing move saw the ball find Josh Grant in the penalty area - his thunderous shot from an acute angle flashed past Piper into the net.

Seven minutes later the Lambs were level when an inch perfect cross by Jack Crago was headed home by Josh Grant. Visitors’ keeper Piper then made saves to deny Crago, Grant, and Daw to keep the scores level.

Things got worse for Ivybridge in the 80th minute when Pocock was sent off as he appeared to stamp on Daw following a challenge. The Lambs took the lead five minutes later when following good play, Warren Daw headed the ball home. Two minutes later Josh Grant fired over the bar when well placed. It was a nervy end as Ivybridge forced two corner kicks in the time added on, but they both cleared, to secure the victory.

The Lambs were well below their best form in this closely contested cup match but did enough to progress to the next round . Ivybridge suffered a heavy defeat when they came to Langsford Park a couple of weeks ago and were really motivated, to ensure, there was no repeat performance of that night. They defended well and this with a man of the match performance by former Lambs ’keeper Martin Piper, kept them in the game throughout the 90 minutes. The home team were the better team on the day, but lacked their normal clinical finishing.

There were a number of good individual performances from Tavistock but the home team’s man of the match was captain Lewis Daw.