Tavistock A F C 0 Saltash United 1

THE Lambs suffered their first defeat in six league fixture when Saltash completed the double over their hosts by a single goal. Ian Rooke was suspended for this game having accumulated five bookings, so Ian Holmes returned to the starting line up. Both Johnny Morris and Johnny Wyatt returned from injury starting as substitutes. The Lambs almost got off the perfect start when a free kick from Ben Davis found Sam Chitty in the penalty area but his fine header went just wide of the target. Three minutes later Joey Carey fine run down the right put a great cross into the box which was partially cleared by the Saltash defence, the ball fell to Dan Hart who beat two defenders before squaring the ball back into the six yard area, but Toby Clarke came to the rescue with a fine tackle and clear the danger. In the 16th minute the visitors took the lead when Matt Cusack did well down the left flank before sending in a cross, it looked as if Jammie Ahern was pushed as he went for the ball, the ball deflected off his head into the path of Richard Maddison, who slotted the ball home from six yards. Four minutes later the Lambs missed a great opportunity to level the scores when from a corner kick Jammie Ahern headed the ball down and back across the six yard area where Dan Hart hooked the ball over the bar from five yards. The Lambs stepped up the pace in the second half and really took the game to the visitors, and had they had a little bit of luck in front of goal they would have equalised. First it was Kelly who was denied, then Holmes worked his magic but he was denied by a fine block by Clark, and Farnham weaved his way into the box but his shot was also cleared. The Lambs were really on top during this period and the Saltash defence was at full stretch. But it was the visitors that almost increased their lead in the 70th minute when a counter attack saw Cusack and Maddison combine well to set up Ross Saint, but shot well wide of the target from 15 yards out. Three minutes later the Lambs impressive left back Josh Robbins produced the shot of the day when he hit a thirty yard thunderbolt which skimmed the top of the cross bar, with the visitors keeper well beaten. In the 81st minute ex- Lambs player Maddison was shown a straight red card for a foul on Robbins The Lambs continued to press forward and the thought their efforts were rewarded when they had the ball in the back of the Saltash net. From a corner kick Ahern headed the ball back into the six yard and Ian Holmes rammed the ball home from six yards, only to be denied by what can only be said to be a very poor off side decision. After the game all the Lambs players said that Ahern headed the ball back into the path of Holmes, therefore he could not have bee off side. The Lambs should not be too disappointed at this loss as the overall team performance was good. Stats show that the Lambs had more shots, shots on target, and numbers of corner kicks. All that was missing was that little bit of 'Lady Luck' which every team needs now and again.