Southern one

Torbay 1

Tavistock 2

TAVISTOCK travelled to Torbay looking for their tenth straight league win following their promotion last season.

The visitors started unusually slowly and could have found themselves a couple of goals behind had it not been for Matt Grahame in goal, who made a number of top class saves. The league leaders were also grateful for the heroics of the backline, notably Stanbury and Berry at the heart of the defence.

The only goal of the half was scored when Fenwick flicked a penalty corner high and past the Torbay keeper.  

The nerves were settled for the visitors early in the second half when Tavistock’s ’SAS’ (Sam Stanbury and Sam Willetts) linked to turn defence into attack, the latter showing the composure to split the Torbay defence with a pinpoint pass to find Ben Hancox unmarked at the back post to make it 2-0.  

Tavistock were resolute in defence despite twice being reduced to ten men although Torbay did pull one goal back to set up a nervy last 15 minutes for the away side. 

HA Vase

Bristol and West 0

Tavistock A 2

TAVISTOCK made the longer than usual journey for this away cup game as they played Bristol and West - their opponents currently sit in second place in De Cymru and The Marches one (an equivalent league to Tavistock’s Southern one). It was evident inside the first five minutes that B and W were going to be a stronger test than anything Tavistock will face in Southern one this season.

The first half was mainly played in the Tavistock half; however, the defensive unit of Grahame, Carr, Berry, Stanbury and MacDougall put their bodies on the line to prevent the home side from scoring.

Against the run of play Tavistock took the lead thanks to Ben Hancox; the Mount Kelly student was the quickest to react  and finished well with his reverse stick when the B and W keeper saved a Fenwick drag flick.

Tavistock doubled their lead when Josh Walker, another Mount Kelly student, finished well following an incisive run and clever pass from the influential Ollie Richards.  

Tavistock knew that a solid second half performance would see them to the last 16 of the competition. Although the hosts enjoyed the greater possession they lacked the ideas and execution to break through the hard working visitors.

The game showed that the normally fast paced attacking Tavistock side can also defend and nullify an attacking threat from a quality opposition.