A Frustrating Day
Bodmin Town 2 Tavistock AFC 1
The Lambs lost out in this close encounter although they more than matched Bodmin for long periods in the game. Only a top rate performance from ex professional Kevin Miller along with some questionable decisions by the match officials denied the visitors of at least a share of the points.
Bodmin were fast out of the blocks and opened the scoring in the eighth minute when following a good move the ball fell to Nick Hurst his delightful volley flashed past Jack Ord into the net.
The Lambs were struggling to get their passing game going, on which can only be said as a very difficult playing surface. Bodmin continued to press forward and Ord was called on to make two smart saves to deny them extending their lead. After the first quarter the Lambs started to get a foothold in the game. Their first opportunity came when a great pass from Warren Daw put Glyn Hobbs in on goal, Miller came rushing out of his goal, but for some reason the referee gave a foul against Hobbs as they both contested the ball in what was a 50/50 challenge.
The Lambs were unlucky not to equalise when Glyn Hobbs struck the post with a thunderous drive. The home team immediately broke away and doubled their lead as a shot from Andrew Neal was parried by Ord, but Sam Mathews was on hand to slot home.
In the 38th minute a good move by the visitors saw the pace of Jack Crago in on goal, but his shot was well saved by Miller minutes later Ord made a great save to deny Mathews from increasing the home teams lead.
Just before the interval a free kick by Hallett found Lewis Coombes but his header was well saved by Miller to keep the score 2-0 at half time.
Lambs manager Stewart Henderson made a tactical change at the interval with Rikki Shepherd replacing Kelvin Fyneboy.
The Lambs really took the game to Bodmin in the second half and within three minutes of the restart a fine move between Robins and Crago saw the later out pace the full back and lash a great cross into the six yard box but it was inches out of the reach of the on rushing Shepherd.
In the 56th minute the visitors thought they had reduced the arrears when a free kick from Hallett saw Daw head back across the box where Crago flashed the ball home, only to be ruled out for off side. The Lambs were now having the greater share of possession keeping the home defence under pressure although they always looked dangerous in the counter attack and Ord was called upon to make a smart save to deny Hurst.
In the 70th minute hosts goalkeeper Miller made a great save to deny Crago, after fine interlink play with Hobbs.
The Lambs got their just reward for all the pressure applied on the Bodmin defence, when they were awarded a penalty when Crago was brought down in the penalty area. Glyn Hobbs made no mistake as he rifled the spot kick into the corner of the net.
Minutes after Miller produce a brilliant double save when he parried a fierce shot from Daw, the ball fell to Coombes but his shot was pushed away to safety.
Rikki Shepherd then made a fine break down the right but his shot flew inches over the angle of the crossbar.
Then in the dying minutes the Lambs were denied a stone wall penalty when once again Crago’s pace saw him crudely brought down in the penalty area, but unbelievably the referee waved play on. In stoppage time Hobbs and Crago combined well but Hobbs shot went inches over the bar. The home team held out to take all the points against the play.
This was another fine effort with some really good individual performances which saw the team have the greater share of the play, with more attempts on goal than title chasing Bodmin. A terrific display by Kevin Miller in the Bodmin goal and some poor decisions by the match officials denied the team from at least a share of the points, if not all three.
