South

Tavistock ladies' firsts 4

Plymouth University 0

TAVISTOCK were looking to bounce back from their cup semi-final defeat last week away at Plymouth University and knew a win would move them level on points at the top of the league with their match day opponents.  

The game started in a similar way to last week with the students controlling the tempo and having the majority of the early possession. The home side shuffled the midfield and front line and they soon took control of the game and looked the more likely to score.  Janice Scott looked strong playing at centre half and was linking well with Laura Armstrong, Robynne Fenwick and Meg Benton, who looked dangerous in the front line, carrying the ball well to set up a number of attacks.  

The opening goal came just before the mid point of the first half when captain Armstrong struck from a penalty corner. Robynne Fenwick doubled the home side's lead shortly after when she hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.

The University tried to maintain their attacking philosophy. However, when one such attack was broken down by some good defending from Pollock, Kelly and player of the match Patterson, the ball fell to Armstrong who carried it at pace into the attacking half; forwards Benton and Lamb both made impressive supporting runs and it was Lamb who, one on one with the keeper, was brought down as she was about to score into the open goal. Fenwick stepped up and flicked the ball low to give Tavistock a 3-0 lead going into the half time break.  

The students came out more determined in the second half and similar to last week it was the two defences who were having the better of their attacking counterparts. As the game progressed the home side slowed the tempo as they attempted to maintain possession of the ball. On the few occasions the students broke through the Reds' defence they were unable to beat a confident Zoe Viggers in the Tavistock goal.  

With the clock running down and the victory assured, forward Sarah Law used her pace to lose her marker on the half way line before firing a pin point pass to Lamb; her first touch gave Lamb a great position to have a shot on goal but she slipped the ball to Armstrong who slapped the ball in for her second goal of the game.  

This great performance from the squad means that Tavistock sit at the top of the league on goal difference ahead of Plymouth University and Kingsbridge and Salcombe with a game in hand over their promotion-chasing rivals.