Carlsberg South West Peninsula division one East

Axminster 2

Tavistock AFC 3

THE Lambs nearly paid the penalty after allowing a two goal lead to slip, but they managed to score the winning goal in the 89th minute to deservedly gain all three points.

A gale force wind and bumpy playing surface made it difficult for Tavistock to produce their passing game. The home team played down the slope with the wind at their backs in the first half.

It was Axminster that got off to the better start, but the Lambs' defence forced them into taking shots from outside the penalty area.

Wheatly shot well wide from 20 yards out in the 8th minute, and two minutes later from a corner kick Dyer headed over the bar. The Lambs then began to settle into the game and nearly took the lead in the 23rd minute, when a good move down the right saw Jordan Williams produce a great cross into the six yard area, where Dan Follett was inches away from making contact with the ball, as he threw himself forward.

Three minutes later a great pass from Dave Hallett found Jordan Williams with a terrific pass; Williams beat his man and pushed the ball into Follett who dragged his shot inches wide of the target.

On the half hour Kelvin Fyneboy jinked past two defenders before crossing into the penalty area; the ball bounced up and struck Dan Follett's hand just as he was about to shoot from eight yards.

The Lambs deservedly took the lead in the 42nd minute when Chris Maskell powered home a header from a Dave Hallett corner kick, to give the visitors a one goal lead at the interval.

Tavistock continued to apply pressure on the home defence, and increased their lead five minutes into the second half when Kelvin Fyneboy beat two defenders and squared the ball back into the penalty area to Jordan Williams who shot low into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0.

Just as it looked as though the Lambs were going to cruise to a comfortable victory things got turned on their head when a speculative shot from Ben Vine took a wicked deflection off a Lambs defender to wrong foot keeper Martin Piper and nestle in the net to reduce the arrears.

The home team got a lift from this bit of luck and had their best spell of the game with the Lambs on the back foot.

The Tigers drew level with five minutes remaining when Sam Dibling's left foot shot beat Piper at his near post to level the scores.

The Lambs then pressed forward and deservedly got the winning goal when Will Stringer headed home from five yards to give the visitors the victory they deserved.

This was a deserved victory in difficult playing conditions, and credit must go to Tavistock for grinding out the right result. They showed character after conceding a two goal lead, they knuckled down and got the winner and gained the three points their play over the ninety minutes thoroughly deserved.