TAFC 1sts 1 – 2 Galmpton
The Lambs push for promotion suffered a real set back, when they conceded a stoppage time winner to second placed Galmpton on Saturday. Both sides went into the game in good recent form and as expected the game was a really good contest between two evenly matched teams.
The game got off to a fast start with both teams probing and prompting for an opening but both defences looked in control.
A late challenge on Lewis Daw went unpunished by the referee in the tenth minute, but he was able to continue. In the 15th minute the Lambs were awarded a free kick 20 yards from goal, but Dave Hallett’s powerful shot deflected off the defensive wall for a corner kick, which was cleared to safety.
Five minutes later Josh Robins made a great run down the left wing and produced a terrific cross into the penalty area, where Kelvin Fyneboy’s header found Dave Hallett but his shot flashed inches wide of the target.
Two minutes later Martin Piper in the home goal was called on to make a smart save to deny Barwell from opening the scoring. The Lambs responded and goalkeeper Primer managed to tip a fine effort from Jack Thomas over the bar.
The Lambs took the lead in the 30th minute when Dave Hallett’s right wing corner kick found Shaun Manley at the far post his powerful header flashed into the net.
Five minutes later the Lambs were under pressure but Josh Robins was on hand, but his sliced clearance went inches past the post for a corner kick. The visitors were now producing some really good counter attacks, and Piper needed to produce a fine save to deny Bayliss from levelling the scores.
The second half started with the visitors pushing for an equaliser, and they almost succeeded when Alex Bayliss hooked his shot wide of the target when well placed. It was Bayliss that levelled the score in the 65th minute when the Lambs lost the ball just in the oppositions half, a long ball found Bayliss in space, but he shrugged off two covering challenges and slotted the ball home past the advancing Martin Piper.
Three minutes later a great cross field ball found Josh Robins, but his tremendous volley whistled just wide of the target. The Lambs continued to press forward for the winner, with Maskell shooting wide, Thomas and Fyneboy all going close to restoring the lead.
Resolute defending by the visitors and the Lambs failing to find that killer pass in the attacking third of the pitch, along with player trying to beat one player to many, rather than moving the ball quickly, resulted in many promising attacking moves fizzle out in and around the penalty area.
Just as it looked as if the game was going to end in a draw, in the second minute of added time Lewis Edwards broke free and was in on goal, but he stumbled on the ball when he was about to shoot, and from the resultant clearance a long ball found Dan Rankin in space, who flashed the winner into the corner of the net.
This result was a real blow to the Lambs promotion bid, when they lost a game when their performance should have at least taken a share if not all of the points on offer. Chasing the winner resulted in a loss and with hindsight it may have been better to close up shop in the last five minutes rather than chase a winner. The team must now pick themselves up and be ready to get their momentum back for the next game against Brixham.
THIS SATURDAY THE FIRST TEAM ARE AT HOME TO BRIXHAM. KICK OFF 3 pm.
THE RESERVES ARE AWAY TO ST TEATH. KICK OFF 2-30 pm.
