Carlsberg South West Peninsula Premier

Tavistock AFC 5

Exmouth 1

THERE was a minute’s silence impeccably observed prior to kick off for Ashley Tossell.

The Lambs were missing the influence of central defender Lewis Daw and midfielder Dave Hallett due to Holiday and injury but welcomed new signing Danny Brooks transferred from St Austell. Ricci Shepherd and Lyle Johnson were also in the starting line up with the two main strikers Jack Crago and Kelvin Fyneboy on the bench. It was just over a month ago that the Lambs visited Exmouth and came away smarting after a 4-0 reversal so hopes were not high and since that game only two points had been collected out of a possible 15.

The home side started well with an early free kick that came to nothing. Shepherd went close with a sharp turn and shot and they were then under a little pressure in the early stages. They went behind in the 15th minute when Josh Robbins fouled in the area and Joe Bushin converted the spot kick.

The Lambs deservedly drew level on 20 minutes with a quick ball out of defence; Shepherd was onto it in a flash and without hesitation sent in a looping shot from 35 yards to  leave keeper Powell stranded for what turned out to be the goal of the game.

The home side then came more into the game putting the visitors under pressure with Lewis Coombes and Brooks both going close before half time.

The second half was just three minutes old when the Lambs took the lead. Coombes had already gone close and Powell was again left stranded as this time Brooks coolly lobbed the ball over him from the edge of the penalty area.

Brookes fizzed a free kick just over the bar and then home keeper Jack Ord made a rare mistake and sliced a back pass wide of the target for an Exmouth corner but Coombes cleared with a powerful header. It was all Tavistock as they dominated the game with Brooks controlling the midfield but they had to wait until the 70th minute before they gave themselves a two goal cushion.

Sam Chitty had come up from the back for a free kick and the ball fell for him on the edge of the area to turn and shoot into the bottom corner. Five minutes later it was 4-1 when in a scramble in front of goal the ball fell loose for Coombes to walk the ball into the net.

Exmouth then found themselves down to ten men when Bushin saw red with a foul challenge.

Tavistock substitute Crago then put more icing on the cake when from a throw-in he latched onto the ball and drilled it into the bottom corner.

Crago then thought he had hit the visitors for six when the ball seemed to have crossed the line, with keeper Powell scrambling back to hook it out but the referee played on. This was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for the home side and their supporters