A MAKE shift team of Tavistock Specials, their coaches and a few willing volunteers played the South West Disability champions from Plymouth on Sunday in a friendly before the city side's bid to retain the UK national disability champions.

The game was played on the all weather pitch at Tavistock College.

Lee Horwood, Wayne Downham, Tom Hammond and Matt Smallacombe held strong for Tavistock as the back four but the skill and fast pace of the disability champions saw them score two goals in two minutes. The game settled down and Special Bobby Upham began to get some good long balls forward to meet the feet of James Follett, who as always quick on his feet looked for the killer ball. Kieron Lees, strong up front, could not get his powerful shot away as fast defenders closed him down.

Ben Burnard pulled off some tremendous saves but the powerful shots left him stranded and at half time Tavistock were 7-0 down.

The Tavistock Specials never dropped their heads and always fought back with Tavistock's man of the match Alex Taylor taking the ball down the touch line and a superb cross saw the ball smacked home.

The Specials went on to get a second but the team from Plymouth were outstanding and scored five more in the second half despite some fine goalkeeping from second half keeper Lee Horwood. Harry Sharp joined the team and Kia Murphyl ran his socks off but the champions at the end of the day were Plymouth. The Tavistock Specials wish them the best when they play their first fixture against Bournemouth in two weeks' time in their bid to retain the championship title.

Organisers said a big thanks to Billy and James for unblocking the road with a fallen tree to enable the match to go ahead.