Carlsberg South West peninsula premier

Tavistock AFC 1

Elburton Villa 0

THE Lambs followed up their fine win over Stoke Gabriel on Tuesday, to make it three wins on the trot when they beat a resilient Elburton Villa team.  

The intention of the visitors was obvious from the start as they set up with a defensive system - this frustrated the Lambs for long periods, getting everyone behind the ball.

The home team almost broke the deadlock in the sixth minute when Lewis Coombes and Rikki Shepherd combined well to set up Danny Brooks but his shot was well wide of the target.

Midway through the half a Coombes’ header found Jack Crago but his shot was pushed over the bar by visiting keeper Rickard.

Elburton’s first real threat on the home goal came in the 30th minute, when a counter attack saw a Wheeler cross from the right, headed well over the bar by Cole.

The Lambs continued to dominate possession but were having difficult finding that accurate final pass to break down a very compact defence. Jack Ord in the home goal was called upon to deny Smale when he was put in on goal in another counter attack.

The Lambs took the lead in the 40th minute with a terrific move as the ball was fed to Jack Crago, whose cross into the penalty area was inch perfect, for Lewis Coombes to lay the ball off for Rikki Shepherd to smash home.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, with the Lambs dominating the play and always looking the more likely to increase their lead. However, they struggled to break down the visitors’ defence and although they created a number of half chances they were denied by poor finishing and some good goalkeeping by Rickard.

The home team became frustrated resulting in players trying to take on too many defenders, rather than using their normal slick passing game. Chances fell to Kelvin Fyneboy, Lewis Pacey, and Danny Brooks but there was no end product. This was a hard earned victory against a defence minded team.

Tavistock AFC 3

Stoke Gabriel 0

TAVISTOCK got off to a bright start and took the lead in the fourth minute when a fine move saw Jack Crago cut into the penalty area - his inch perfect pass found Kelvin Fyneboy, who fired home from 12 yards. This stirred Stoke Gabriel into action and following a good move McKewan dragged his shot wide of the target from 18 yards.

In the 15th minute Crago and Fyneboy combined well for Tavistock, with the latter finding Rikki Shepherd, but his shot was brilliantly turned away for a corner kick by visitors’ keeper Murphy.

Two minutes later another great passing move involving five players set Crago in on goal, but his early shot was well saved by Murphy.

The Lambs now dominated the play and should have increased their lead in the 27th minute when some great one touch football by Fyneboy, Crago and Shepherd put Fyneboy in on goal, but he blasted the ball wide of the target from eight yards. With Follett, Johnson and Shepherd controlling the middle of the park the visitors were restricted to counter attacks. In the 38th minute Jack Ord in the home goal saved well to prevent Alpin from equalising. Two minutes later he was called upon to make an easy save to deny Bowker. Half time came with the home side only having a one goal advantage having created several really good chances.

The home team started the second half with real intensity, Fyneboy found Crago who cut into the penalty area but once again his shot was brilliantly saved by Murphy. He then made a good save from an effort from Lewis Coombes. This pressure saw the home team double their lead in the 50th minute; a superb move saw Coombes and Fyneboy exchange passes to set up Crago to power home from 12 yards.

The visitors still worked tirelessly to get back into the game but it was the Lambs that looked more likely to score with Fyneboy and Shepherd going close. Robins produced another fine run down the left his fine pass saw Fyneboy, set up Shepherd but his shot was well saved by Murphy.

Crago’s penetrating runs down the flanks caused the visitors problems throughout and another such run saw him provide the perfect cross but Fyneboy’s header was straight at the keeper.

Then in the dying minutes the Lambs deservedly extended their lead when Shepherd produced another startling run before pulling the ball back for Crago to slot the ball home from six yards.

Young local lad Hayden Greening came on for the last ten minutes and showed some useful touches; it looks like he has a bright future in the game.