Tavistock AFC 0 Willand Rovers 3
The Lambs welcomed back Dan Evans, Josh Grant and Josh Parry to the starting line-up with Oscar Massey and Alex Battle taking their places on the subs bench.
It was not a good start for the Lambs, when with just three minutes on the clock, the visitors opened their account, as Doug Camilo’s free-kick from out on the left was flicked on by Kieran Bailey, Taylor Scarff got his head to partially clear, but it fell to Ryan Guppy just outside the goal area to shoot past Josh Oak.
At eight minutes in, Tallan Burn’s cross was met by Grant but his header went straight to keeper George Burton and minutes later Grant was through on goal, but was fouled just outside the area and from the resultant free-kick his effort would come back off an upright and was cleared.
Willand then doubled their lead on 16 minutes, as Alfie Moulden’s cross-field ball found Jack Rice-Lethaby one on one with Ben Cross outside of the area, but he managed to get his shot away with a deflection from Cross’ attempted block, which deceived Oak to go just inside the far post.
Then at 20 minutes it was three up for the visitors from another set piece as Camilo sent in a cross for Guppy to acrobatically bicycle-kick the ball past Oak.
This led to a mountain to climb for the Lambs for the remainder of the game and they didn’t really get above base camp with chances few and far between. Tavi had already been forced into an early substitution when Grant was forced off due to injury to be replaced by Oscar Massey and the nearest they came to getting back into the game arrived on 40 minutes when from a Burns’ corner Scarff headed just over.
The second half started well for the Lambs and they came the closest to opening their own account as a mighty goalmouth scramble was finally cleared by the away defence. After that, the visitors were quite content to slow the game down at every opportunity. Moulden and Rice-Lethaby would combine again, but Oak saved well; Camilo’s free-kick sailed inches wide; and substitute Adam Kelly’s volley from a corner was saved by Oak on 83 minutes.
Not a good day at the office was the comment at the end. Four tough games in ten days had taken its toll on the Lambs, but they regroup and go again next Saturday the 15th.
It does not get any easier though, as the final away fixture is another long journey into Hampshire to face title and play-off contenders, second-placed Sholing (Southampton) with a 3pm KO.
The coach leaves Roborough Park & Ride @ 8.15am and Langsford Park @ 8.45am, then Sourton and Exeter Services. For a seat, call Eric on 07970052668
