Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Tavistock AFC 2

Elmore 2

THE Lambs got off to a good start as Dan Pethick's shot was well saved in the fifth minute following a fine move down the left flank.

Five minutes later captain Dave Hallett's fierce drive from 20 yards was pushed onto the bar by the keeper, only to fall behind the goal for a corner kick.

The visitors then settled down and started to produce some fine football. In the 20th minute Elmore produced a fine counter attack which split the home defence wide open, and James Blake was on hand to strike a fierce drive past Dean Smith, low into the corner of the net.

Play remained fairly equal for the remainder of the half, although the home team looked the more likely to score. Just before the interval Blatchford had a 25 yard thunderbolt superbly saved by Moore in the visitors' goal.

The Lambs started the second half at a higher tempo and were awarded a penalty kick in the 49th minute, when Dan Pethick's shot from 12 yards was handled on the goal line by defender Danny Tap. The referee had no alternative but to show the defender a red card for deliberate hand ball, denying the hosts a goal scoring opportunity. Lee Blatchford stepped up to slot the ball home for the Lambs' equaliser.

The Lambs had the opportunity to take the lead but failed to capitalise, when Ian Rooke headed just wide of the target from a corner kick and a Dan Pethick shot was well saved by the visitor's goal keeper. With the man advantage, the home team continued to put the visitors' defence under pressure, and deservedly took the lead in the 70th minute when Blatchford's free kick was headed home by Dan Pethick.

The home team then missed two real goal scoring opportunities, it was Dan Pethick that missed from 12 yards after a fine run and cross by Dan Follett. Tom Hall then shot well wide when in a good position.

With the Lambs pushing forward to get that cushion of another goal, Elmore always looked dangerous on the counter attack. Keeper Dean Smith was called upon to make two really good saves to deny the visitors equalising.

The Lambs were punished for the missed chances, when with virtually the last kick of the game Lee Blatchford was penalised for a hand ball in the penalty area, James Blake held his nerve to get his second goal for Elmore to take a share of the points.