Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Saltash United 1

Tavistock AFC 1

THIS meeting between two of the leading teams in the Peninsula  league ended in a draw, with both teams playing high quality football.

The Lambs were the far better side in the first half, if had not been for some fine goalkeeping by Ryan Rickard and some poor finishing, they would have had a convincing lead by half time.

The Lambs were fast out of the blocks and almost scored in their first attack. Jack Crago broke down the left and found Steve Rogers with a fine pass; his shot was cleared for a corner kick.

In the sixth minute Crago beat his marker and cut into the penalty area, but his fierce shot was well saved by Ryan Rickard in the home goal. Crago and Hobbs then combined well but Crago’s shot went just over the bar. Saltash first threat on the visitors goal came in the 15th minute when following a corner kick, the ball fell to Sam Leary, but his shot was pushed over the by by Josh Oak. Three minutes later from a free kick taken by Rogers saw a Warren Daw header pushed away for a corner kick by keeper Rickard.

The Lambs were now controlling the game playing some delightful football, a Crago shot flashed past the post into the side netting, before Rickard was called upon to make another terrific save to deny Glynn Hobbs from opening the scoring on the half hour.

Six minutes later Luke Brown replaced Jack Crago when he was injured in a challenge and could take no further part in the game.

Three minutes later the Lambs deservedly broke the deadlock, when Warren Daw found Glynn Hobbs with a great pass that split the home defence; Hobbs calmly rounded the advancing Rickard and slotted the ball home.

The visitors continued to put pressure on the home defence but two fine saves by Rickard and some resolute defending kept the score to a single goal at the interval.

Saltash improved in the second half as the contest became a more even affair. A great save by Rickard denied Hobbs from doubling the visitors lead in the 49th minute.  Eight minutes against the run of play Saltash, Ryan Richards snatched an equaliser.

Josh Robins then made a terrific break forward beating three defenders before flashing the ball across the six yard box, his pass was agonisingly just out of the reach of the on rushing Glynn Hobbs.

The game was now flowing from end to end with both teams striving to find the winning goal.  A great save by Josh Oak in the visitors goal denied Lewis Edwards from giving Saltash the lead before Calum O’Brian then headed over from a corner kick.

A great run by Tavistock’s Ricki Shepherd down the right, saw his cross find Hobbs, but his shot was brilliantly turned away for a corner kick by Rickard. Josh Robins then made a penetrating run from his own half leaving several defenders in his wake, before unleashing a terrific shot from 20 yards that flashed inches over the bar.

The game ended in a draw as neither side could fine that illusive winning goal. The Lambs will feel disappointed by the result as over the 90 minutes they were the better side.

However, they failed to turn their dominance in the first half, into goals, they should have had the game won by the interval.

It was another good team performance with everyone playing their part, but the man of the match was Lambs’ left back Josh Robbins who was outstanding.