FA Carlsberg Vase first qualifying round Tavistock AFC 0

Bridport 2

IT took two late goals from the Western League premier division visitors to defeat a Lambs side that put in a great performance having been reduced to ten men in the 24th minute when Ian Rooke was sent off, for a dangerous challenge.

The opening 20 minutes saw little to choose between the two sides, both playing some attractive football. It was the Lambs that had the first half chance following a flowing move which saw Johnny Wyatt's shot go just wide of the target.

Despite their numerical disadvantage the Lambs gave a good as they got, and never really looked in trouble at the back, with the home defence and Andy Meeds in magnificent form. On the break the Lambs produced enough to show that this game could still go either way.

Meeds made two good saves to deny Ben Clarke, and Legge to deny the visitors the lead. The Lambs had a couple of chances before the interval but the visitors goalkeeper saved well from both Dan Pethick and Jarryd Kelly, as it remained goalless at half time.

The second half continued in the same vein with the visitors unable to break down the home defence and the Lambs were looking really dangerous on the counter attack.

Midway through the second half the Lambs had a penalty appeal turned down, when a goal bound shot from Wyatt appeared to strike the arm of a defender and deflected for a corner kick. The corner kick resulted in Matt David just heading over the bar. The home team were still equal to their higher league opponents and kept pushing forward, with the game still in the balance.

With 10 minutes remaining Lambs got caught on a counter attack and gave away a penalty when defender Chris Menhenick brought down Bridport's Russell Legge in the area. Andy Meeds managed to get a hand on the resultant spot kick but could only push the ball into the net.

The Lambs responded by throwing players forward in search of an equaliser, and certainly caused the visitors defence some real concerns going close on three occasions, and forcing a series of corners. The Bridport defence held firm with their goal keeper producing a couple of fine saves to deny Wyatt, Kelly and Ahern from levelling the scores.

With two minutes remaining with numbers short at the back, Ben Clarke beat the off side trap before firing his shot which Meeds pushed against inside of the post and cross the line.

The game was much closer than the score suggests, and had a couple of referring decisions gone the home team's way, then the result may well have been different.

There are a lot of positives to take from this game, with some outstanding individual performances as well as a great team effort against the odds.

The back four of Hart, David, Ahern and Menhenick were outstanding, the midfield matched the opposition, with a great performance from Dave Hallett, and there was always a threat up front with midfielders Johnny Wyatt and Jarryd Kelly linking well with lone striker Dan Pethick.