Tavistock AFC fail to claim 3 points on the road despite strong performance

A goal from Lewis Spurrier and a Ross Langworthy brace made sure it was three wins from three for home side Cleeve, despite impressive performance from Stuart Henderson’s Lambs.

Tavi took the long trip to Cheltenham, making one change from the side which won in the FA Cup against Barnstaple. Forward Jack Crago was unavailable for the encounter, with experienced versatility man Ben Cross coming back into the side after a lengthy time out injured. Cross came into the Lambs midfield with the experienced man also captaining the side.

The Lambs started the encounter strongly and had a half chance in the 2nd minute after a cross-come shot by Ben Fowles looked to catch Bishop’s Cleeve goalkeeper Lewis Clayton out. However the shot-stopper reacted sharply to catch the ball and clear it to safety.

Two minutes later in the 4th minute the home side took the lead, after a mix up in the Tavistock defence. A cross from the left by Jay Malshanskyj looked to be an easy catch for Lambs goalkeeper Will Howard. However the Lambs goalkeeper and defender Ollie Northam got in each other’s way with the goalkeeper punching the ball straight into the path of Lewis Spurrier. The in-form ex Malvern man had the easiest of tap-ins to smash the ball home for his fifth goal in his last three.

The Lambs won a free kick in a dangerous position five minutes in, with the set piece whipped in by Jacob Bowker. The former Falmouth man’s cross was met by the head of Joel Jackson whose header was flicked wide of Clayton’s net. In the 8th minute the Lambs won a free kick after forward Ryan White was pushed to the floor by Josh Nelmes. A minute later, Lambs manager Stuart Henderson was given a yellow card after protests over the previous decision with the manager thinking Nelmes should have received more than a talking to for giving a way the free kick.

In the 11th minute a cross for the home reached the head of Jack Lee, whose powerful header was cleared of the line well by Lambs defender Iestyn Harris. In the 13th minute a chance for Lambs saw White flick the ball on to Fowles, who flicked a shot wide of Clayton net after pressure from two Mitres men.

Just over the 18th minute mark saw the home side have another shot towards goal with Ben Mclean cutting in from the left and smashing an effort just wide of Howard’s right post. Six minutes later another attack for the Lambs saw the lively Fowles involved, with the former Saltash and Buckland man sending in a cross which was just inches away from finding the head of left-back Ethan Wright.

In the 28th minute came a huge talking point as Matt Liddiard brought down White, who looked to be in on goal. The Referee quickly blew his whistle but only gave a yellow card to the Number Six, with his reasoning being Joe Jeremiah was in fact the last man at right back. The resulting free kick was blocked by Lee but the defenders deflection fell perfectly to Jackson, who took a touch before smashing a powerful effort which was saved expertly by the feet of Clayton.

In the 34th minute a chance for the home side saw Cleeve club-captain Ross Langworthy smash a powerful effort from the right of the box which was just smashed over Howards net. In the 41st minute, the home side were close to doubling their lead after a powerful effort by Jeremiah just cleared Howards crossbar.

In the 43rd minute the home side did double their advantage. Former Malvern man Jack Watts picked up the ball down the left-wing and took his time before squaring the ball across to Langworthy. The Cleeve talisman took his time, before poking the ball home from close range to grab a customary goal against the Lambs at Kayte Lane. Not long later the Referee blew for half-time with the Lambs left disappointed after an impressive first half performance against the strong home side.

Five minutes into the second-half the Cheltenham based side had a opportunity after Jeremiah took the ball past Wright and sent in a cross which met the head of Langworthy whose header was flicked over Howard’s net. In the 53rd minute, Bowker did well for the Lambs with the winger flicking the ball past Luke Payne and sending in a cross which was flicked out by Lee for a corner. The resulting corner was met by Bowker whose header from close range was flicked over Clayton’s bar.

In the 56th minute another contentious decision saw a good ball by Rhys Lindsell find White, who took his time before smashing a shot which looked to strike the hand of the sliding Lee. The Referee seemed unmoved despite protests from the Lambs fans and players. The defender did well to block the ball however he will only know if it did strike the arm. A minute later, the lambs had another chance with Bowker cutting in and curling a shot over Claytons net.

On the hour mark, the home side added a third wrapping up the game. A curling cross from the right by the impressive Jeremiah was met by the head of Langworthy, whose header found the bottom left-corner despite the best efforts from Howard. Four minutes later, the Mitres' Captain was replaced with Curtis Jemmett-Hutchinson taking his place. The Lambs made their first sub of the day a minute later with former Plymouth Argyle youngster Kieran Edworthy coming on for Cole Fisher.

In the 67th minute, the home side made another sub with Joe Turley replacing the carded Liddiard. Two minute later a cross from Bowker found the head of White, who knocked the ball down to Fowles. However the forwards powerful effort was smashed high over Clayton’s net. The home side went on to make two more substitutions in the 71st and 72nd minute with Malshanskyj and Spurrier being replaced by Toby Holland and Aaron Evans-Harriott. Three minutes later the Cleeve made their final sub with Jeremiah replaced by Harry Neeson.

In the 84th minute a chance for the home side saw a cross from Holland find Watts who slipped in Evans-Harriott whose shot was blocked impressively by Jackson. The Lambs made their second sub of the day in the 88th minute with Cross being replaced by young Aaron Hughes.

Into the 90th minute and a chance for the home side saw Watts smash an effort from inside the box which was cleared well of the line by the young Northam. A final effort for the young Lambs side saw Bowker cut inside and smash an effort wide of Clayton’s net. Not long later, the Referee blew for full-time with the victory seeing the Cleeve move to the top of the table. Both sides return to action on Monday with the Lambs welcoming Brixham to Langsford Park and the Mitres taking the trip to Sporting Club Inkberrow.

Lineups:

Bishop’s Cleeve:

Clayton, Payne, Lee, Nelmes, Liddard (Turley 67), Mclean, Watts, Langworthy (Jemmett-Hutson 64), Malshanskyj (Evans-Harriott 71), Jeremiah (Leeson 75), Spurrier (Holland 70)

Tavistock AFC:

Howard, Cross (Hughes 88), Wright, Jackson, Fowles, White, Bowker, Northam, Lindsell, Fisher (Edworthy 65), Harris