Carlsberg South West peninsula premier

Tavistock AFC 1

Plymouth Parkway 0

TAVISTOCK produced a terrific performance to defeat Plymouth Parkway, one of the fancied sides to take the title this season. Former Lambs manager Kevin Hendy brought his talented side to Langsford Park, having recorded a great victory over Shepton Mallett in the FA Cup.

The game was played at a tremendous pace with both teams having their fair share of the play. It was the visitors who had the first scoring opportunity when they were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal, but Levi Landricombe’s shot was wide of the target.

The Lambs responded with a fine move when Josh Robins made a great run down the left wing; his cross found Jack Crago in the penalty area who laid the ball back to Warren Daw, but his fierce shot from 20 yards was well saved by Elphick.

Back came Parkway and Jack Ord was called upon to make two smart saves in the 26th and 29th minutes to deny Hughes and Lewis from opening the scoring. Two minutes later a great cross field ball from Bobby Hopkinson, was inches from finding Jack Crago inside the penalty area.

Crago then out paced his defender but his cross was just too high for Danny O’Hagan in the six yard box.

Parkway responded with a fine move that saw Heveran’s shot from 18 yards whistle just over the cross bar. Another fine run by Josh Robins saw his cross-come shot go inches wide of the target.

Then two minutes before the interval the Lambs broke the deadlock when they were awarded a free kick on the half way line. The quick thinking Hopkins long ball caught the Parkway defence on the hop, his perfectly weighted kick split the visitors defence to find the alert Crago, who calmly slotted the ball home past the advancing keeper Elphick.

The second half was equally entertaining for the spectators, with Parkway pushing for an equaliser and the Lambs probing for a second goal. As hard as the visitors tried the Lambs’ defence was superb throughout, denying them very few opportunities to score, and goalkeeper Ord was in fine form and dealt with anything when called upon.

In the 70th minute the Lambs thought they had doubled their lead when a fine move saw Crago thread a fine ball inside the full back for Danny O’Hagan to fire home from 12 yards, but he was adjudged to be off side.

The Lambs held firm to record a fine victory against a good Parkway side.

Tavistock AFC 1

Camelford 2

THE Lambs suffered their first defeat of the season from a gritty display by the Camelford team, who snatched victory with a last minute injury time winner in the 95th minute.

The home team were left wondering how they lost this game, having dominated the second half, creating several goal scoring opportunities. They actually had the ball in the net twice but both were ruled out for off side.

It was Camelford who started brightly, and passed the ball well in the opening exchanges. They had a couple of long range efforts, which were well wide of the target.

The Lambs had the ball in the net in the 20th minute when Warren and Crago combined but the goal was ruled out for off side.

The Lambs were now having a good spell of pressure and were awarded a penalty two minutes before the interval, when Jack Crago was  fouled in the penalty area. However, Bobby Hopkinson’s spot kick rebounded off the post and the ball was cleared by a visitors’ defender. The visitors took the lead when a poor clearance from keeper Jack Ord fell to Boxal who played the ball to Kyle Flew, who slotted the ball home from ten yards.

The home team really stepped up the intensity in the second half and dominated long periods of play, but were struggling to find that cutting edge in front of goal, against a gritty, resolute Camelford defence.

Jack Crago’s pace was causing the visitors’ defence problems, his goal bound shot was deflected for a corner kick in the 55th minute.  Minutes later after another fine move Dan Follett saw his shot flash inches wide of the target.

In the 72nd minute Dan Follett was fouled 20 yards from goal. Bobby Hopkinson’s fierce free kick  came back off visiting keeper Gregory, and Alexander was on hand to slot the ball home from three yards. There was disappointment and bewilderment from the Tavistock players when the ‘goal’ was ruled off side by the referee.

Minutes later Alexander was again denied when his thunderous shot was pushed onto the bar by Gregory, and cleared off the line by a defender.

The Lambs deservedly levelled the scores in the 80th minute when Warren Daw provided the perfect pass to split the Camelford defence and Jack Crago calmly lobbed the advancing keeper and put the ball into the net.

The home team continued to press for the winner and went close on several occasions but were denied by some last ditch defending by the visitors.

Then with virtually the last kick of the game the home team got caught short at the back, as they continued to pursue a winner. The ball fell kindly for the visitors, a long ball found youngster James McNary who made a mistake to give his team their first victory.

This was a disappointing result after such a great performance against Parkway. Although they did enough to earn the points, they did not play with the same intensity in this game. At times it can be a cruel game. They must pick themselves up and be ready for the next games over the bank holiday.