T’MORTON 2nd Rd: Tavistock AFC 4 – 3 Plymstock United (aet)
The Lambs had to once again make changes to their line up with both Martyn Sullivan and John James serving one match suspensions and Micheal Landricombe retuning to his midfield role.
A very poor and sloppy first half performance by the Lambs resulted in the Division One West outfit almost causing a shock result in this Throgmorton League Cup Match. However, the home team managed to force an equaliser in the 89th minute to take the game into extra time.
The Lambs had a fine opportunity to get off to a flying start in the 13th minute after Ben Davies was pulled down in the penalty area by defender Ben Alcock, but the Plymstock goalkeeper, James Gill, made a fine save from Andy Sargent’s spot kick.
Minutes later it was the visitors who took the lead when home ‘keeper Dean Smith saw his intended clearance rebound off Jamie Ahearn and fall kindly into the path of Aaron Hulme, who had the easiest of tasks to strike the ball into an empty net. This setback saw the Lambs go through a very poor passage of play which resulted in the visitors having the greater share of possession, putting the home defence under pressure.
Plymstock doubled their lead in the 30th minute when Jamie Pook fired home a superb free kick from 23 yards. Within two minutes the home team reduced the deficit when a fine move resulted in a great cross flying into the penalty area and Michael Landricombe rising majestically to head home powerfully from eight yards.
The visitors responded quickly when Hulme’s left wing cross found its way to Josh Hocken who rifled home an angled drive beyond Smith. And just before the interval things got worse for the Lambs when they lost ‘keeper Dean Smith after he fell awkwardly resulting in what appeared to be a severely ankle damage. Smith could take no further part in the game and Neil Kinsman, the fullback, took over the goalkeeping duties.
The Lambs, though still not at their best, produced a much better second half performance; there was a lot more urgency in their approach, which resulted in controlling the play for long periods. The home team reduced the arrears in the 52nd minute when Michael Landricombe scored his second of the game. The Lambs increased the pressure on the visitors defence, but the Plymstock backline were holding firm, with some resolute defending, good goalkeeping from Gill and a little bit of lady luck thrown in for good measure. It was looking very much like the visitors were going to hang on to their lead, and cause the shock result of the day.
However it was not to be, as in the dying minutes a long free kick from stand in ‘keeper Kinsman, was forced over the line by substitute Ryan Fice to equalise and take the game into extra time.
The Lambs took the lead for the first time in the game in the 100th minute, when Sargent collected a fine pass from Hallett, rounded Gill in the Plymstock goal and slot home from 10 yards. The home team remained in control and held out for the remainder of the game.
The Lambs now visit Liverton in the next round, and there is no doubt that they will have to up their game if they are going to progress any further in this competition.
Match Report: Derek Pethick
