Krac and Landricombe both depart Tavistock Changes at the club ahead of trip to Bristol Manor Farm
THE season of transition continues at Tavistock with the departures of experienced defender Mike Landricombe and coach Shane Krac.
The Lambs are keen to establish themselves at Southern League level and the target this season was to consolidate in Division One South, something they have done in what has been an excellent campaign at Langsford Park.
Last week’s 2-0 win over Cinderford Town all but guaranteed their place in the division for next year, but the ambitious Lambs have set their sights much higher than that with a place in the end of season play-offs. They currently occupy the last of those five places and will be looking for the points at Bristol Manor Farm this weekend to further enhance their chances. But they do so without the duo of Landricombe, and Krac.
“Shane came in to support the management team, but he didn’t necessarily have a role at the club.” Tavi boss Stuart Henderson said. “He has a busy life and stuff going on and it wasn’t quite for him, but he did a great job in the games that he was involved in and we thank him for his time and efforts.
“It’s a massive commitment and I think Shane will go on and be a very good number one in his own right, like he was at Saltash, whenever he decides to get back into it. Shane brought Mike to the club and it was at a time where we were without Taylor (Scarff) as he was suspended and we didn’t know how long Dan was going to be out with his injury.
“Mike is a very good player but it then got to a stage where we couldn’t really carry four centre halves in the squad and I didn’t want to block the pathway for younger players. He did a great job and turned in some good performances in the games he played, but he’s decided to join his brother at Exmouth and we wish him well.”
The irony is that Scarff is suspended again – he serves a four-match ban after a second red card of the season for retaliation in last week’s win at home to Cinderford – but Evans is back from injury and Henderson also has Ben Cross and Warren Daw who can both play at centre half. However, there is perhaps a case for Cross to be given a chance farther forward given his outstanding 30-yard half volley, which flew into the top corner for Tavi’s second goal in that win over Cinderford.
“I think he is having his own goal of the season competition as he also scored one from the half way line earlier in the season!” Henderson quipped. “But I think last week’s was better. The technique he showed was superb and it was a great strike. I am pleased with Crossy, he is the future of the club. By his own admission, he was probably disappointed to be out of the side, but his attitude while he was out of the team has been first class, he has come back into the side with good performances and if he keeps it up, he deserves to keep the shirt.
“We probably created more chances in the first half last week than in some games. I was disappointed with the sending off, but the lads surrendered possession to Cinderford, dug in and banked up and saw the game out.
“Mike Searle did well in goal and I was pleased, especially with the boys who like to play as they showed the other side to the game, worked hard and kept a good shape and didn’t allow them to play through us.”
Tomorrow’s clash comes just three weeks after Manor Farm ran out 3-1 winners in the reverse fixture at Langsford Park. “On that day, we had a lot of possession, but Owen Howe was the difference between the two teams,” Henderson said. “He’s a striker who, when he gets a chance, he puts it away and we have to be mindful of that.
“It’s mad really because they are one of the bigger teams in terms of their set-up. They were in the play-offs last year and they are battling to stay out of the bottom four and lost at Bideford in the week, so they will naturally want to bounce back. It will be a difficult game for us, but we are looking forward to going up there.”
