Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Tavistock AFC 2

Newquay 1

THE Lambs completed their league programme by recording their second win in a week when they beat Newquay last Wednesday.

The game got off to a fast start and the home team could have taken the lead as early as the second minute, after a fine move down the right, led to an Ian Holmes cross being headed just over the bar by Ian Rooke. Six minutes later the Lambs opened the scoring after another fine move resulted in a thunderous shot from Jarryd Kelly being saved by the Newquay keeper, the ball fell to Ian Holmes in the penalty area and he slotted the ball home from ten yards.

Newquay levelled the scores when Ben Davies was adjudged to have fouled Verciesi in the penalty area. Verciesi rifled home the spot kick.

The Lambs were in fine form and really looked the most likely to add to their goal tally. Chances came but the visiting goal lived a charmed life. Had it not been for three superb saves by the visiting keeper the game would have been secure by half time. Firstly he denied Ian Holmes in the 35th minute, when he turned a shot that looked destined for the top corner, away for a corner kick. Three minutes later he produced another fine save when he turned a fifteen yard shot from Holmes over the bar.

In the 41st minute Holmes was again denied when the Newquay keeper produced the outstanding save of the evening, as he stretched full length to turn his ferocious shot around the post for a corner kick.

Just as looked like the visitors were going to hold out to half time, the Lambs deservedly got their noses in front in the 44th minute. A great ball from Jarryd Kelly found Ian Rooke and his header nestled in the top corner to give the hosts the lead at the interval.

The visitors came out with more purpose in the second half and it was Josh Robbins who came to the Lambs' rescue when he made a goal line clearance in the 54th minute. This scare shook the home team so they stepped up their game to the level they displayed in the first half.

Carlton Farnham who had been fairly quiet during the first half , showed his ability when he produced a great run down the left flank beating three defender before pulling the ball back from the dead ball line to Jarryd Kelly but his shot hit the post and ran away to safety.

The visitors were finding it difficult to contain the Lambs and they were limited to the occasional counter attack. In the 60th minute they broke with pace and almost equalised but fortunately Verciesi screwed his shot wide of the target.

The Lambs should have increased their lead in the 67th minute when Jarryd Kelly showed great skill in beating two defenders just on the edge of the penalty area, but his shot was well saved.

The home team continued to press forward to try an increase their lead but they were again denied but the keeper who pulled off two very good saves to deny Ian Holmes in the 85th minute.

The Lambs produced an excellent move in the 88th minute when Ian Holmes, Dave Hallet and Johnny Wyatt combined from deep in their own half exchanging passes that split the visitors wide open but it was unfortunate that Wyatt's fine shot was just wide of the target.

In time added on, the Lambs almost paid the penalty for their missed chances, when following a corner kick Chapman heeded just over the home goal.

This was a fine team performance by the Lambs, and they thoroughly deserved their victory as they were dominant over the 90 minutes. The Lambs will finish mid table which is rather disappointing as at the end of January it looked like the team would finish in the top six. Injuries and unavailability has taken its toll and effected results, as the team went five games without a win. The most pleasing factor is that there are a number of youngsters that have come through and they will no doubt become regulars in the first team squad next season.