Teignmouth 0 – 1 TAFC 1sts

This was a great result for the Lambs, when they beat top of the table Teignmouth, at Coombe Valley. This keeps the Lambs in the hunt for promotion this season. The playing surface was not the best, with the Lambs finding it difficult to play their fluent passing game.

The Lambs got off to a fast start and could have taken the lead in the opening minutes when Jack Thomas produced a perfect cross but Dan Follett’s header just cleared the cross bar.

In the 6th Minute Carlton Farnham was denied when Liam Jones produced a fine save, as he turned his shot away for a corner kick Two minutes later Josh Robins and Stewart Clark combined well but Clarks fierce shot was inches wide of the target.

Teignmouth’s first attempt on goal came in the 20th minute, when Ibbotson tested Martin Piper, but he made a good save to keep the scores level.

Three minutes later the Lambs should have taken the lead when a fine move down the right saw Farnham’s cross find Jarryd Kelly in the penalty area, where he side stepped a defender, but unfortunately his thunderbolt cleared the cross bar.

The Lambs were continuing to dictate the play, with the home team committing several fouls to keep them at bay. In the 28th minute a Lewis Daw free kick from 30 yards out, was met by Shaun Manley in the penalty, but his fine header was cleared off the goal line for a corner kick.

In the 40th minute the visitor’s nearly paid the penalty for not converting their scoring opportunities, when the home team created a chance but Will Stringer was on hand to block a shot from Roe, which went for a corner kick. Martin Piper made an easy save from Graham.

The half time whistle came with the Lambs on the front foot and should have had a comfortable lead, had they converted some of their goal scoring opportunities.

The game became very physical in the second half with a number of challenges by home team, were late and some instances off the ball. The game therefore became scrappy affair, with play continually being interrupted by numerous free kicks. The Lambs kept their composure and could have taken the lead in 50th minute when Jack Thomas dragged his shot wide of the target when well positioned. Both teams were also finding it difficult on a bumpy playing surface, each team were trying to break each other down, but the Lambs defence was in fine form and gave nothing away.

The visitors came close on a couple of occasions before they opened the scoring, when Kevin Fyneboy produced a fine run down the right, getting to the dead ball line, before producing the perfect cross to Dan Follett in the penalty area, who flashed the ball home from twelve yards, to give the Lambs a deserved lead.

The home team tried to respond but with the Lambs defence marshalled by Stringer, Manley and skipper Daw, they coped admirably with the home team attacks, and Piper easily dealt with the few efforts that the home team produced.

It was the Lambs who should have extended their lead in the 76th minute, but Jack Thomas saw his shot from just outside the penalty, flash inches over the top of the cross bar. This was followed ten minutes later, when a Lewis Daw free kick found Thomas but his shot was blocked and went out of play for a corner kick.

The referee played nines of added time, but the Lambs never looked like conceding a goal and ran out worthy winners.

This was a good all round team performance with everyone putting in a really good shift, which produced a really well deserved victory against a team at the top of the table.

The defence were solid and well drilled, so the home team found it very difficult to create many goal scoring opportunities. The midfield dominated this area of the park, with Hallett and Follett prompting the attacking play. The front players worked hard and created several openings with their pace and skill, giving the Teignmouth back four problems throughout the game.

This standard of performance must be maintained for the remainder of the season, starting with this Saturday when they entertain Galmpton, who are second in the league, making it another, must win game.

THIS SATURDAY THE FIRST TEAM ARE AT HOME TO SECOND PLACED GALMPTON. KICK OFF 3 pm