Carlsberg South West peninsula premier

Tiverton Town

Reserves 1

Tavistock AFC 2

THE Lambs came away from Tiverton with all three points in a hard fought encounter. Dan Evans was ruled out through injury so Owen Jones came into the starting line up.

Tiverton made the much brighter start and came close to taking the lead in the 15th minute when a fine cross from Phillips was headed inches over the bar by Davies. Jack Crago then made a fine run down the left, but he shot wide of the target. A defensive mix up in the Tavistock defence saw the ball fall to Davies on the angle of the penalty area — he calmly picked his spot and curled a perfect shot into the far top corner of the net.

Josh Oak made a fine save to deny Phillips from increasing the home side’s lead, in the 25th minute. Five minutes before the interval Oak made another great save to turn a fierce shot from Tricker around the post for a corner kick.

The Lambs were not at their best during the first half so Tiverton deserved to lead at the interval.

The second half was a transformation as Tavistock finally began to get the passing game going with good effect.  Wannel in the home goal was immediately called into action making a really good save to deny Shane Krac from levelling the scores.

The home team almost increased their lead when a counter attack saw Josh Oak make a fine save to deny Phillips.

The Lambs were level on the hour when a fine move saw Ben Cross provide the perfect pass to put Glynn Hobbs in on goal and he calmly chipped the ball over the advancing keeper into the net.

The Lambs continued to control the game, but had a scare in the 68th minute when the home made a fine break down the right, but Gironns shot inches wide from 20 yards. Glynn Hobbs and Luke Brown then combined well, but Brown’s shot was brilliantly saved  by Wannell. Brown again went close with a shot that was inches wide of the target.

A tremendous move saw Josh Robins and Glynn Hobbs split the home defence wide open, but Robins’ shot was superbly turned around the post for a corner kick.

The Lambs got their reward in the 85th minute when another defence splitting move saw Hobbs pulled down in the penalty area, he made no mistake from the spot, as he rifled the ball home to give the Lambs a deserved lead. In the dying minutes Hobbs played Crago in on goal but he shot over the bar from 12 yards.

After an average performance in the first half, the Lambs increased their tempo in the second period playing some very good football, creating several scoring chances. They deserved their victory to keep their push to maintain a top four place in the league.

FA Vase

Exmouth Town 3

Tavistock AFC 2

TAVISTOCK were knocked out of the FA Vase losing by the odd goal in five. After beating two teams that play at a higher level in the previous two qualifying rounds to lose to a team in the same league was disappointing.

The Lambs had to make changes to the side that played at Tiverton, with Shane Krac unavailable through suspension.

Glynn Hobbs took a shot straight from the kick off as he saw the home keeper Chris Wright off his line, the keeper managed to retreat too making an acrobatic save, tipping the ball over the bar.

Exmouth started the better and forced the Lambs into making several mistakes by pressing the visitors high up the pitch, giving them no time to get their passing game going.

In the third minute Exmouth took the lead, when they were awarded a free kick; it was taken by Dan Boere and poor marking by the Lambs saw Ace High get a free header which found the corner of the net.

The home team continued to press forward and increased their lead in the 13th minute when Dave Hallett lost possession in the midfield; a fine ball found Jordan Charron in on goal, who slotted the ball pass the advancing Josh Oak. Things got even worse for the Lambs when on the half hour Nathan Cooper made it three from another defensive error.

Manager Stuart Henderson made two tactical substitutions to try and get a foothold back in the game. This did make a difference but the Lambs still found it difficult to get their passing game flowing.

Exmouth continued to have the upper hand and it needed two great saves from Josh Oak to deny Charron and Cooper to prevent the Lambs falling further behind.

Just before the interval Glynn Hobbs saw his powerful shot turned onto the post by keeper Wright, the ball went out for a corner kick.

The second half was a complete contrast to the first as the Lambs started to take control. Following missing a couple of early chances Tavistock reduced the deficit, when a fine move down the left saw Crago get into the penalty area; his cross into the six yard area found Ricki Shepherd, who flashed the ball home off the under side of the cross bar. In the 70th minute a great through ball put Glynn Hobbs in on goal where home keeper Chris Wright crudely brought him down inside the penalty area. Hobbs stepped up to thunder the ball home.

The Lambs were now on top putting the home defence under severe pressure in search of an equaliser but some last ditch defending and good goal keeping kept them at bay. Then in the dying minutes Glynn Hobbs nearly forced extra time but his shot was scrambled off the goal line to deny the Lambs.

This was a game that was lost by some defensive mistakes, giving the side a mountain to climb in the second half. The team applied themselves in the second period and almost made it, just falling short, as the home team held on.