Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Tavistock AFC 0

Buckland Athletic 1

THE Lambs put in a really good performance against high flying Buckland Athletic, last season's league champions.

The home side were without John James, with Lee Blatchford and Jamie Ahearn joining him on the injury list.

Ian Southcott made two new signings in the week and Ryan Fice and Ryan Honey made their debuts for the Lambs.

Buckland showed their attacking prowess as early as the eigth minute with an attack down the left saw the ball go into the penalty area but was well blocked by the home defence.

It was however the home side that should have taken the lead after some fine midfield play between Dave Hallett and Ryan Honey, that found Kojo Ofari on the left wing; his superb cross was met by Sam Davey who saw his header hit the post with the keeper well beaten, only for the ball to bounce back off the post into the keeper's hands.

In the 21st minute Tavistock were awarded a free kick for a foul on Hallett. Ryan Honey's superb free kick found Sam Davey but he saw his shot go agonisingly inches wide of the post.

It was then Dan Pethicks turn to catch the eye he beat two defenders before putting Ofari through but he shot wide of the target from 18 yards.

Ryan Honey then set up Fice but his shot was blocked by the visitors' defence. Then once again with the home team in control, they were caught on the break in the 38th minute when Shane Gill's intended pass to Dean Coppard was blocked only for the ball to kindly fall to Gill who found the net with a rasping first time drive.

The home side were really unlucky to be behind at the interval after such a very good first half performance.

The visitors began brightly in the second half and put the home defence under some pressure. The Lambs back line did keep it relatively tight, and Buckland were forced to shooting from outside the penalty area. The woodwork came to the home sides rescue when Antony Lynch unleashed a thunderous shot from 25 yards which struck the cross bar and bounced to safety.

Five minutes later Andy Meeds brought off the save of the season when he leaped full length to his right and superbly pushed a vicious shot from 18 yards by Danny Lewis, on to the cross bar, and away to safety. Meeds was again called upon to keep his side in the game when he denied Stuart Morgan when one on one with the keeper.

The Lambs came back with vengeance and Murphy was by far the busiest keeper in the last 15 minutes as they launched a number of attacks on the visitor's goal.

Ofari found Hallett but his header was well saved by keeper Nathan Murphy. Then substitute Tom Moody fired over from 25yards. A good move by Fice and Hallett saw Moody's shot well saved by Murphy.

Then in the 89th minute Ryan Fice appeared to be hauled down in the penalty area, with all the home side and spectators shouting penalty the referee waved play on.

The Buckland defence managed to hang on as the home side continued to press forward for what would have been a deserved equalizer.

There were good performances from all the Lambs players, but a special mention should be made of the outstanding contributions of goalkeeper Andy Meeds and midfielder Dave Hallett who looked the best player on the park.