Carlsberg South West Peninsula premier

Falmouth Town 1

Tavistock AFC 3

THE Lambs closed the gap to one point in the chase with Plymouth Parkway for third place, with another fine performance at Bickland Park on a fine bank holiday Monday.

Falmouth got off to a calamitous start, when in the visitors first attack in the second minute resulted in Jack Crago being pulled to the ground as he was in on goal. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty kick. Glynn Hobbs made no mistake from twelve yards. Hobbs then saw an audacious effort from 35 yards clip the top of the bar.

The Lambs doubled their lead in the 20th minute when Jack Crago became provider with a defence splitting pass to Hobbs, who calmly lobbed the advancing keeper. Both Coombes and Crago missed opportunities to increase the lead, and paid the penalty when from a rare raid into the Lambs penalty area, the home team won a corner kick. Slack marking by the visitors’ defence, saw Westgarth reduce the deficit.

Just before the interval a Hallett corner kick was headed Inches wide of the target by Lewis Daw. Lewis Coombes played a fine pass through to Hobbs who netted from close range, but his effort was ruled out for offside.

Within two minutes of the restart the Lambs restored their two goal lead. Josh Robins made a fine run down the left before crossing to Kelvin Fyneboy, whose deft touch saw Coombes head the ball home from six yards.

The visitors continued to dominate the game with Falmouth restricted to the odd counter attack. Their best effort came from a free kick twenty five yards from goal as Timmons fierce shot whistled over the bar.

Tavistock were undoubtedly the stronger team, and but for a fine goalkeeping display by Ryan Barnes in the home goal, the scoreline could have been worse for Falmouth. Barnes made fine saves to deny Robins, Crago, and Coombes, before substitute Bailey Mabin saw his shot thunder back off the cross bar to safety.

This was another fine display by the team, before their trip to Elburton.

Elburton Villa 0

Tavistock AFC 7

THE Lambs proved to be more than a match for the already relegated Elburton, and the comfortable victory moved Tavistock up to third in the league as Plymouth Parkway lost at Saltash.

The Lambs opened the scoring in the second minute when fine work by Glynn Hobbs set up Lewis Coombes to fire home from 12 yards.

Three minutes later they doubled their lead when Jack Crago’s pace took him past two defenders before he fired the ball low into the corner of the net.

The home team were finding it difficult to get any sort of foothold in the game as the visitors passed the ball really well. Hobbs then shot inches wide of the target before another shot from him was deflected for a corner kick. Dave Hallett’s kick found Jack Crago, who laid the ball off perfectly for Bailey Mabin to slot home.

The nearest the home team came to scoring was through a defensive mix-up that saw the ball fall to their centre forward, but he shot wide of the target from seven yards. Although the Lambs had several more scoring opportunities they failed to increase the lead before the interval.

On the hour the visitors made it four when a Dave Hallettcross found Kelvin Fyneboy at the far post. His header back across the six yard area was met by Daw who headed home.

The visitors got their fifth in the 66th minute when another flowing move from midfield saw Ricki Shepherd and Conor Rush exchange passes that opened up the home defence. A perfectly weighted pass by Rush put Glynn Hobbs in. He took the ball around the advancing keeper before shooting home.

This got worse for the home team when Josh Robins went on a rampaging run down the left. He was crudely brought down after cutting into the penalty area, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a spot kick.

Hobbs stepped up to fire home into the bottom corner to make it six.

In the 88th minute Hobbs and Shepherd combined to split the defence open.

Shepherd provided the pass for Hobbs to cut into the penalty area and his sublime left foot shot found the top corner of the net to complete his hat trick, and chalk up the Lambs’ 100th goal of the season.

This really good performance perfectly set up that all important game against St Austell last Friday night. Avoiding defeat would mean the team would finish third in the league.

Tavistock AFC 4

St Austell 0

THE Lambs rounded off their season in fine style when they recorded a resounding victory over league runners up St Austell, in front of the largest league crowd seen at Langsford Park for many a season.

The game started at a fast pace with the home team going close to opening the scoring in only the second minute.

Glynn Hobbs’ delightful pass inside the full back found Jack Crago but his lob over the advancing keeper went agonisingly over the bar.

The Lambs were quickly dominating proceedings and the early pressure resulted in a mix-up in the visitors’ defence after six minutes.

Lewis Coombes won possession and played a lovely ball into Hobbs, who calmly rounded keeper Peters and slot the ball home.

Four minutes later the home team were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal. Hobbs’ thunderbolt of a shot cannoned off the upright and ran to safety. After 15 minutes the Lambs lost captain Lewis Daw with a knee injury. His brother Warren slotted into the centre back position with substitute Dan Follett taking over in midfield.

The home team continued to press forward and Dan Evans saw his header clip the crossbar following a Dave Hallett corner.

The Lambs doubled their lead on the half hour mark when Warren Daw broke from the back, making a penetrating run through the middle of the park.

His pass found Fyneboy who set up Lewis Coombe to fire home from 14 yards.

This spurred the visitors on and Jack Ord was called upon to make a couple of smart saves to maintain the home team’s lead. Three minutes before the interval Peters made a terrific save, pushing Jack Crago’s 25 yard bullet away for a corner kick. On the stroke of half time Ord made a good save to deny Evans from reducing the home side’s two goal advantage.

St Austell came out strongly after the break and had a very good opening 15 minute spell. From a free kick 30 yards from goal, the ball was headed clear but it fell to Payne and his shot was well saved by Jack Ord.

Then Giles saw his header go over the bar following a corner kick.

On the hour the home team were awarded a free kick. Shepherd and Fyneboy combined well, with the latter shooting just wide of the target. The Lambs had now started to regain control of the match, as their passing game now began to flow again.

In the 64th minute Crago’s pace caused the visitors’ defence problems again, much as it did throughout the game. He found Shepherd inside the penalty area who was brought down by Watts, and the referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Glynn Hobbs rifled the ball low into the corner of the net.

Shortly afterwards Lewis Pacey played a penetrating through ball for Ricki Shepherd to volley home to complete the scoring.

The visitors continued to try and reduce the arrears but the home defence were in no mood to concede and deservedly kept a clean sheet.

The final whistle went with the home team recording their tenth straight win, to bring to an end, what has been a memorable season. Finishing third after a poor start to the campaign is a remarkable turnaround. This is the Lambs’ highest points total since the formation of the South Western Peninsula League.

It is imperative to keep the same management team and squad of talented players together for next season in order to push for the title next season. Everyone in the squad have been a credit to the club; the football produced since Stewert Henderson took over has been terrific to watch. Scoring over 100 goals in a season is a great achievement.

The manager’s quote after the game was ‘Let’s go two places better next season.’