Carlsberg South West peninsula premier

Ivybridge 0

Tavistock AFC 0

TAVISTOCK Lambs managed to grind out a draw at Ivybridge despite having four enforced changes to their starting line up before kick-off.

Both Robins and Alexander were missing through injury and Hopkinson and Evans were also unavailable for selection.

Ivybridge came flying out of the blocks and came close to opening the scoring in the second minute when a fine pass found James Rowe but his shot hit the side netting. The game was played at a frantic pace with both teams having a fair share of possession.

Goalkeeper Jack Ord was called upon to make a fine save, pushing a shot from Doel around the post for a corner. From the set-piece a header from Stevens was cleared off the goal line by Lambs’ Warren Daw. Lee Doel tested Ord again in the 20th minute, but Ord dived low to his right to make a great save.

Midway through the half, the Lambs settled into their own style of play and started to create chances. A fine move resulted in O’Hagan pulling the ball back to Sam Chitty, whose thunderous shot from 30 yards cannoned back off the crossbar.

A free kick by the Lambs’ Parnell saw a great header from O’Hagan brilliantly saved by Ivybridge keeper Josh Oak. O’Hagan was again involved a few minutes later in a fine move which saw his header find Scott Rennie, but his cleverly clipped shot went just over the crossbar.

Both sides continued to only create half chances before the half-time whistle and with both goalkeepers in fine form the teams were deadlocked at the interval.

The second half saw great endeavour by both teams to break the stalemate. With both defences in fine form, chances to score were limited. Both Dan Follett and Lewis Coombes could not take the half-chances that came their way when they saw their efforts go over the bar.

Following some excellent play by Rowe in the build up play, Sam Stevens’s fierce shot was brilliantly saved by Ord.

The Lambs had their moments — just as it looked like Jack Crago was through on goal for a chance to score, the Ivybridge keeper showed lightning reactions to come off his line and collect the ball off Crago’s toe, denying him the chance of scoring.

With eight minutes to go, Sam Chitty was sent off for a second book-able offence. During this last period the Lambs defended stoutly to see the game out and gain a deserved point.

A draw proved to be a fair result as both teams showed plenty of commitment and effort. The match proved exciting but not a true spectacle as the game failed to flow, due to numerous free kicks interrupting play.

A point is always acceptable away from home, but the Lambs will hope to find that added cutting edge in front of goal.

Stoke Gabriel 1

Tavistock AFC 4

THE Lambs travelled to Stoke Gabriel on Bank Holiday Monday and came away with a convincing victory to round off a solid weekend.

The visitors started brightly and home keeper Adam Simpson was called upon to make a smart save to deny Toby Gossling opening the Lambs’ account.

The first real threat from the home team came in the 11th minute when Jack Ord was called upon to make a save from Ollie Aplin. Three minutes later Crago made a good run down the right for Tavistock and his cross into the penalty area was just out of reach for the onrushing Danny Zalick and Scott Rennie.

The Lambs were now in control and producing some very good attacking football, so it was no surprise that they took the lead in the 20th minute. Another fine cross from Crago troubled the defence and the ball fell to Dan Follett 20 yards from goal — his thunderous shot flashed past the home keeper into the top corner of the net. The Lambs increased their lead five minutes later when the visitors were awarded another free kick. Warren Daw’s fierce shot came back off the keeper and Scott Rennie was on hand to head home from two yards.

The Lambs continued to dominate the game, and made it three in the 35th minute following another fine move. An inch perfect pass from Dan Follett saw Danny Zalic head home from six yards.

The Lambs created more good goal scoring opportunities before the interval but efforts from Zalick, Parnell, and Swain went wide of the target. Shortly before the half time whistle the Lambs lost striker Rennie with a dislocated shoulder.

The home team certainly made it a more competitive game in the second half. In the opening minute, Aplin crashed his shot against the cross bar from twelve yards after sloppy defending. The visitors had a period when they lost their composure and goalkeeper Jack Ord was called upon to make a couple of smart saves from Kelly and Harding.

The home team reduced the deficit when the Lambs’ defence was split open with a long ball, which allowed Aplin to slot the ball home. Things got worse for the Lambs when Ryan Swain was sent off with fifteen minutes remaining. The Lambs dug in and managed to continue to have more than their fair share of possession.

Substitute Lewis Coombes scored the goal of the game when he collected the ball on the left, moved into the penalty area and weaved his way past three defenders before dummying the goalkeeper and slotting the ball home from two yards.

A Tom Kelly effort went wide of the Lambs’ goal and just before the final whistle new signing Graham Gallway saw his fine effort go inches wide of the target.

The Lambs fully deserved this victory, and apart from a short period in the second half they controlled throughout the match.

• Tavistock first team are at home to Launceston tomorrow night (Friday, September 4) KO 7.30pm.