South one

Sidmouth and Ottery 0

Tavistock 11

FOLLOWING last season’s promotion, Tavistock men’s firsts hockey team started life in South one away at Sidmouth and Ottery, who finished second behind the West Devon side in South two.

It looked like it could have been the worst start possible as Tavistock were forced to start with regular centre back Dale Wood in goal due to keeper Matt Grahame being forced to miss the first 15 minutes of the game.  

By the time Grahame arrived he found the Reds in control and leading the game 3-0; forward Bob Carr had given Tavistock the early lead with a close range finish at the far post.

Last season’s club top scorer Si Fenwick scored a quick fire hat-trick. Continued pressure resulted in Tavistock winning three penalty corners, all of which were converetd with identical drag flicks by Fenwick.  

The away side added a fifth goal before the break when Ollie Richards linked up well with Carr to smash the ball past the Sidmouth and Ottery keeper.

Tavistock scored a sixth at the start of the second half when the hard working Richards showed the desire to get forward and scored follwing a quick counter attack.  

New Summer signing Sam Willetts scored his first goal for his new team deflecting the ball into the net from a well worked penalty corner routine.  

Captain Tom Honey capped another fine performance by getting on the score sheet with two unstopable strikes from the top of the D.  

Midfielder Dom Stanbury scored a trademark solo goal, beating a number of the Sidmouth and Ottery players on a 30 yard run with the ball. Stanbury fired a shot on goal which took a deflection of a defender’s stick and passed the stranded keeper.  

The final goal came when Jonny Elliott converted coolly following another incisive passing move from the Reds.

Despite the score line, the home side moved the ball well and looked to attack but the back line of R Carr, Wood, S Stanbury and Marchant meant that Grahame was rarely troubled in the Tavistock goal.