Carlsberg South West Peninsula league premier

Liskeard Athletic 1

Tavistock AFC 1

THE Lambs will be kicking themselves for not capitalising on their dominance in the first half, when they failed to take three glorious opportunities to score inside the first 20 minutes of this game at Lux Park.

In the fifth minute after a fine passing move saw Dan Pethick coast into the penalty area and with only the keeper to beat put his shot from eight yards over the cross bar.

Three minutes later a raid down the right saw Ben Davies beat his full back and squared the ball to Andy Sargent, but again his shot from ten yards cleared the bar.

Andy Sargent almost opened the scoring in the 20th minute but his fine effort was inches wide of the target.

The home team were penned in their half for long periods, and their first real attack to threaten the visitor's goal came in the 27th minute when Andy Meeds produced a full length dive to push a thunderous 30 yard shot from Dean Smith over the bar.

The Lambs ended the half camped in the Liskeard half but could not convert two more opportunities in the 40th and 42nd minute. Firstly in a goalmouth melee the home defence somehow managed to clear a shot from Andy Sargent off the goal line; the same player then hit the angle of upright and cross bar with a great shot with the home keeper routed to his line.

The second period started with both sides trying to get the upper hand, the home side were much more competitive with the game a much closer encounter.

Once again it was the visitor's that were creating the more clear cut chances with Dan Pethick and Andy Sergeant combining well as an attacking partnership.

Pethick set up Sargent but his shot went just wide of the far post.

The home side then had a good chance to open the scoring when Smith hit a shot over the bar from 20 yards out.

The Lambs took the lead in the 57th minute when following a corner kick by Paul Quin was not cleared by the home defence and the ball fell to Matt David to slot home from six yards.

This set back seemed to spur Liskeard into action and it was the home team that finished the stronger, and the Lambs defence came under real pressure in the last quarter of the game.

Both Smith and Kanakh saw their efforts goal wide and over the target respectively, but Liskeard were not to be denied and Ryan Richards ran through the Lambs defence and his shot was saved by Andy Meeds but the ball fell kindly to substitute James Donnellon to fire home from close range.

It was the Lambs that were now hanging on but they almost snatched victory with the last kick of the game when following a corner kick the home defence managed to clear of the line in a goal mouth scramble.

This was another game where the Lambs paid the penalty for missing guilt edge chances.

The first half display from the team was very good, producing some delightful football, and had the team converted their chances, the points would have been safe by half time.

However Likeard had the better of the second half and the Lambs defence were really tested in the last quarter but they held firm to get a point.

Any point away from home is good, but the Lambs should have taken all three.