Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Saltash United 1

Tavistock AFC 5

TAVISTOCK were at full strength for this important fixture, with Saltash also in the top four of the league table.

The Lambs could not have made a better start when they forced a corner in the second minute. Dave Hallett’s beautifully flighted kick saw Dan Evan majestically rise to power home a wonderful header that Saltash keeper Rickard had no chance of stopping.

Five minutes later they forced another corner kick but this time it was cleared by Rickard. In the 12th minute, a terrific passing move by the visitors saw Jack Crago find Josh Grant; his fine effort was superbly tipped over the crossbar by Rickard. The scores were levelled in the 20th minute when Saltash were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Heveren’s fierce shot went through the defensive wall into the bottom corner of the net.

It was not long before the Lambs regained the lead with a wonderful passing move involving a number of players; it saw the ball with Ben Cross, whose fine ball found Luke Brown, who fired the ball home.

It was the visitors that continued to have the better of the exchanges, Saltash played some good football but the Lambs’ defence was in fine form and limited the number of chances created.

In the 32nd minute a shot from Hughes was well saved by Josh Oak; the keeper’s throw found Ben Cross, who fed the ball to Dave Hallett; his great defence splitting pass put Crago in on goal but his shot was brilliantly turned away by keeper Rickard for a corner kick.

Three minutes later the Lambs spurned a chance to increase their lead; a fine run by Robins saw him crudely brought down in the penalty area. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick. However, Grant’s effort was well saved by Rickard.

Shortly afterwards Oak was called upon to make a fine save to deny Hughes from scoring.

Just before the interval another exquisite move saw the ball find Grant but his superb  volley whistled pass Rickard into the net. In time added on at the end of the first half, the Lambs scored their fourth goal of the evening when Crago showed his pace; he cut into the penalty area where he was brought down. Grant made no mistake this time as he rifled the ball home.

Saltash started brightly in the second half — Oak was forced to make a smart save to deny Leary from reducing the visitors’ three goal advantage.

The game was now much more of a contest, flowing from end to end and making it a good game to watch.

On the hour it looked like the Lambs had increased their lead when a Dave Hallett corner kick saw Lewis Daw’s header flash into the side netting just wide of the upright.

Crago and Grant both had fine efforts well saved by Rickard in the home goal, and Oak made two good saves to deny Richards and Maddison from scoring for the home team.

With 20 minutes remaining Tavistock manager Stuart Henderson made a substitution with Jake Miller replacing Hallett, and Jack Tribble for Luke Brown. Tribble was soon in the thick of things when he saw his fine effort flash just wide of the target. With eight minutes remaining Tom Burgess replaced Josh Grant.

The Lambs increased their lead when another superb move ended in the ball finding Jake Miller to fire home in the 89th minute. The Lambs had the ball in the net in time added on, when another fine move saw Tegan Rosenquest — who had a terrific game —finding Cross with a fine pass; his cross was rammed home by Tribble, but it ruled out as he was adjudged to be offside.

This was a great performance by the Lambs as they controlled the game against a team that will be chasing for honours at the end of the season. Every single player was on top form to help seal a convincing victory. Man of the match was Dave Hallett for his superb performance in midfield.