Friendly

Tavistock AFC 5

The Army 0

THE Lambs took on the Full Army Squad at Langsford Park last Tuesday and ran out worthy winners.

The game got off to a fast start with both sides playing some very attractive football. In the eighth minute a fine move saw Luke Brown find Dan Follett with a delightful pass, but his shot was well saved by visiting keeper Hayes.

The Army almost opened the scoring when Jack Oak was forced to make a fine save from Clegg. Farrell then shot wide of the target when well placed.

Midway through the half the Lambs started to get their flowing football going with Rogers and Wheeler producing some excellent passing in mid field. The home team’s pressure finally told when Rogers rifled home a terrific shot into the top corner of the net from 25 yards.

Lewis Coombes increased the home side’s advantage with a fine shot. The Army almost reduced the arrears in the 43rd minute when Humphries’ shot whistled pass the upright.

The Lambs took control in the second half and dominated possession, so it was no surprise they increased their lead in the 65th minute when Rogers played a delightful through ball for Ricki Shepherd to slot home from ten yards.

Five minutes later Glyn Hobbs made it four when he fired home from 18 yards. Three minutes later a shot from Jack Crago clipped the visitors’ crossbar. Hobbs then had a terrific volley brilliantly saved by Hayes.

The Lambs completed the scoring in the 84th minute when another fine move saw Hobbs provide the perfect cross for Crago to set up Jack Tribble, who slotted the ball home from eight yards.

The Army continued to battle on and created a couple of good chances in the dying minutes when Robertson’s fine effort was saved by Ord. Then McGarry saw his magnificent effort from 35 yards cannon back off the crossbar to safety.

This was another fine work out for the Lambs with manager providing stern test with top quality opposition.

Friendly

Melksham Town 3

Tavistock AFC 2

TAVISTOCK travelled to Western Premier League side Melksham last Saturday and lost in a close fought pre-season fixture.

The home team opened the scoring in the 10th minute when the Lambs failed to clear a corner kick and Melksham’s centre half was on hand to slot home from close range.

Just as the Lambs were getting into their flowing football, they suffered a second set back when the Tavistock defence again failed to adequately clear a corner kick. The ball returned into the six yard box, where a home forward who was unmarked was on hand to head home from six yards.

This really stirred the Lambs into action and they started to create some openings in the home defence. In the 28th minute the home keeper made a fine save from Steve Rogers.

Two minutes later the same player scored a delightful goal when curled a perfect shot into the far corner of the net from 25 yards giving the home keeper no chance of saving.

The Lambs were now having the lion’s share of possession. A Ricki Shepherd pass saw Glyn Hobbs flash his shot inches wide of the target. In the 35th minute Luke Brown and Dan Follett exchanged passes but the shot was turned away for a corner kick, which was only partially cleared. The ball fell to Shepherd but his thunderous shot was cleared for another corner kick. The Lambs continued to press forward but could not unlock a resilient home defence.

The Lambs started the second half at a tremendous pace and immediately put the home defence under pressure. The Lambs levelled the scores in the 51st minute when a flowing move saw Shepherd set up Luke Brown and his 20 yard thunderbolt flashed into the home goal.

The visitors continued to dominate the game for long periods with some delightful pass-and-move football. In the 65th minute a great move saw Brown denied when the home keeper made an outstanding save. Five minutes later Brown set up Glyn Hobbs but his volley was brilliantly saved by the Melksham keeper. The home were limited to counter attacks but the Lambs defence looked in control.

The Melksham goalkeeper came to rescue again in the 79th minute when he denied Hobbs with another great save, before denying Sean Krac with another fine save.

The Lambs continued to dominate the remainder of the game, but in extra time they were caught by a sucker punch. In a Melksham counter attack, the Lambs committed a foul on the edge of the penalty area. The free kick found the corner of the net to gain victory for a Melksham side that had been outplayed for long periods of the match.

This was another good performance against a team playing at a higher level so there are many positives that can be taken from the game. Had it not been for an outstanding performance from the home keeper, the Lambs would have come away with a comfortable victory. The passing football being played is fantastic to watch, and with an improvement in finishing, the results will come. Defensively, Tavistock need to become stronger at defending set-pieces. The team are looking really fit and they will be ready to challenge for honours next season.

Friendly

Tavistock AFC 2

Plymouth Argyle 7

THE Lambs produced a fine performance last week at Langsford Park against Football League Two side Plymouth Argyle but eventually conceded three goals in the last 15 minutes as Argyle over powered them, with some clinical finishing.

The kick-off was delayed for ten minutes as so many people wanted to catch the action. The crowd were treated to some fine football action with both teams producing some attractive passing football.

Dave Hallett and new signing Shane Krac for Tavistock immediately hit it off in midfield prompting some fine moves which allowed Jack Crago to use his pace on the left flank. In the eighth minute Crago beat his full back cut into the penalty area but his shot was easily saved by Argyle captain Luke McCormick.

As expected Argyle dominated overall possession, but the Lambs were making a real game of it, which provided some great entertainment for the large crowd.

Argyle’s opening goal had an element of good fortune when a shot from former Scotland international David Goodwillie deflected off a defender to Alex Battle, who slotted the ball home from ten yards.

Shortly afterwards a well worked free kick move saw Krac and Dan Evans exchange passes to release Crago but his effort flashed over the bar.

In the home goal, Jack?Ord denied Oscar Threlkeld when he tipped his ferocious  shot from 25 yards over the bar. The corner kick resulted in the visitors extending their lead when the cross was not cleared and Jimmy Spencer was on hand to fire home.

Josh Robins then made a penetrating run down the left for the Lambs before finding Crago, who was brought down just outside the penalty area. Glyn Hobbs’ fierce free kick was blocked by the defensive wall.

Ord was called upon to make another smart save to tip a curving shot from Alex Battle. Argyle increased their lead in the 41st minute when a long ball from defence saw Spencer provided the perfect knock down into the path of Goodwillie, who thundered the ball past Ord for a great goal.

Back came the Lambs with another fine move that led to Threlkeld pulling down Coombes in the penalty area. Glyn Hobbs stepped up to flash the ball low into the corner of the net.

Ord was called on to make another fine save before the the half time whistle, with Argyle leading by 3-1.

The opening period of the second half saw the Lambs have possibly their best period of the game, playing some really eye-catching football.

On the hour an excellent move saw the Lambs reduce the arrears when another fine passing move ended with Hobbs firing a low cross  to Crago at the far post to slot the ball home.

This resulted in the Argyle manager making six changes in the 63rd minute, which resulted in the visitors regaining control and dominated the remainder of the game. The Lambs battled to keep the visitors at bay but the professional outfit produced some clinical finishing with goals from Louis Rooney, Battle, and what was a penalty decision converted by Jarvis before Graham Carey completed the scoring in the 87th minute.

The crowd of around 1,500 had witnessed an entertaining game of football.

This was a really good performance by the Lambs, the team looks in very good shape and with further testing friendlies before the start of the season, will be ready to put in a real challenge for honours this coming season.

The Lambs entertain South League Tiverton Town at Langsford Park on Monday, July 25. Kick off is at 7.30pm.