Tavistock face difficult Newquay AFC test as hosts take control at Mount Wise
The Lambs took on the Peppermints away from home in the Western League, with the match shifting after the opening 15 minutes as the hosts began to create more opportunities
Tavistock AFC suffered a 5-0 defeat away to Newquay AFC in the Western League Premier Division on Wednesday evening, with the hosts scoring twice in three first-half minutes before adding three more goals after the break.
Connor Marshall’s side made a competitive start at Mount Wise, creating early opportunities, but Newquay grew into the game and took control with a spell of goals either side of half-time.
Tavistock threatened in the opening stages. Winger Max Edgecombe drove forward in the second minute but could not find a teammate, before Kian Burch cut inside and laid the ball off to Ben Walters, whose effort went wide.
Burch tried his luck himself in the eighth minute, with his shot bouncing in front of Newquay goalkeeper Tom Creed and going wide.
Blake Colton then had an effort deflected behind for a corner as the visitors looked to build on their early pressure.
Newquay also created chances, with Dan Holman making a low save from a free kick in the 17th minute.
The Tavistock goalkeeper was called into action again two minutes later, while another Newquay effort from a cross ended with a header going wide.
At the other end, Lambs number nine Walters came close in the 30th minute, sending a looping chip just over the bar.
The Peppermints eventually took the lead in the 39th minute when Callam McOnie scored from a free kick struck from around 40 yards.
Newquay doubled their advantage three minutes later. Jack Bray-Evans headed home from a corner in the 42nd minute, putting the hosts in control before the interval.
Tavistock faced further pressure before half-time, with Holman saving another effort and a Newquay shot striking the post in added time.
Newquay extended their lead seven minutes into the second half. Matt Searle curled an effort into the far top corner in the 52nd minute after being set up by Bray-Evans.
Tavistock continued to look for a response. Kian Burch ran through and tried to get a shot away, while later efforts saw him curl an attempt wide and cross for a teammate, with the ball collected by Creed.
The hosts made it 4-0 in the 60th minute when Louis Price found the net. Tavistock were then reduced to 10 players temporarily when David Rowe was sin-binned in the 63rd minute.
Newquay scored their fifth two minutes later. McOnie played a through ball for Tim Nixon, who finished first time in the 65th minute.
Ben Waters also got a shot on target later on, but the Newquay goalkeeper gathered it.
The hosts made several changes in the closing stages, and Tavistock continued to push forward without finding a way past Creed.
Newquay saw out the match to record a third consecutive clean sheet and a fifth consecutive game without defeat.
The result leaves Tavistock eighth in the Western League Premier Division with 24 points from 17 matches.
Newquay AFC place fifth with 29 points from 15 games.
Tavistock return to Langsford Park on Saturday, October 31, when they host Torpoint Athletic in the Western League Premier Division.