Match Preview: Bishops Cleeve vs Tavistock AFC
Tavistock return to action on the road as they face play-off chasing Bishop’s Cleeve.
By Luca Sperti
The Lambs will be happy to return to action, following Tuesday’s rearranged fixture against Malvern Town being cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch at Langsford Park. Tavi have not played since 17th January where in a freezing Devonshire night, the red and black outfit took Frome to the sword, beating the Robins 6-2. However, a lot has change in just-over a week, as Starman in that game, Dylan Jones was recalled by his parent club Plymouth Parkway from his loan spell. Jones was placed straight into the starting eleven for Parkways game against Hayes & Yeading this Wednesday, where the forward scored and won a penalty in a 0-2 away win.
Bishop’s Cleeve last played on Saturday 13th of January where they put six-past Melksham Town in a 6-1 victory at Kayte Lane. Despite the visitors taking the lead in the match, goals from Ben McLean, Ross Langworthy, Ethan Dunbar, Will Turner and Josh Nelmes made it 5-1 to the Mitres on the hour mark. Former Swindon Town academy player, Toby Holland added a sixth in added time, to make it the Cleeve’s biggest win this season. The team, which is located around 10 minutes out of Cheltenham, have won two of their previous five results in the League. These two results have come in the previous two games, as before putting six past Melksham, the Mitres hit Larkhall Athletic for four. In a 4-0 victory at the Kayte Stadium.
The last match between these two sides was an entertaining 3-1 win for the Lambs, at Langsford Park, in front of a crowd of 152 back in October. Two goals from Exeter loanee and debutant Mitch Beardmore and fellow Exeter City loanee Joe O’Connor were enough for victory that day, against a strong Bishop’s Cleeve side. That victory was in-between Tavistock excellent form in October and early November which saw the Lambs win five on the bounce picking up crucial wins at Bristol Manor Farm and Westbury United. Bishop’s Cleeve currently sit sixth in the table, just one point behind Evesham United who occupy the final play-off spot. However, the Gloucestershire based side only sit above Bemerton Heath Harlequins on goal-difference. The Harlequins face Evesham on Saturday and a draw between the two sides and a win for the Mitres would see the team in green leap into the play-off positions.
Bishop’s Cleeve Key Players:
Ross Langworthy- The forward has been on fire this season scoring an impressive 16 goals and getting 10 assists in only 25 appearances this season, which is quite frankly a ridiculous record. The striker has spent his whole career in non-league starting at Gosport Borough, where he spent one season scoring once before moving to Shortwood United. In his first season at the club in all competitions Langworthy scored seven goals, he then followed this up with 11 goals in 42 appearances the next season. The 14/15 season still at Shortwood the striker scored 22 goals in 52 appearances earning him a move to Cirencester Town. In two seasons at Cirencester, the number nine scored eleven in 76 appearances but found the step-up in divisions challenging at times. A small loan back to Shortwood in his second season and Cirencester saw Langworthy scored two in four, before the next season seeing the striker move to Yate Town. The striker scored twelve goals in two-and-a-half-year spell at Yate, before the striker moved to Fairford Town, where he also spent two-and-a-half- years. Before moving to the Mitres. Last season the striker scored 21 in 23 appearances in the Southern League, and he has not slowed down this season. The striker will be one to watch in this game especially inside the box where he is most lethal.
Toby Holland- The attacking-midfielder, has also been on fire this season scoring 13 and getting 10 assists as well as winning three man of the match awards. The 22-year-old from Cheltenham, started his career at Swindon Town, where he spent two seasons as a pro. The midfielder made his debut for the Robins, in the EFL against Bristol Rovers in a 1-0 loss in November of 2019. Following the expiry of his contract at Swindon, Holland moved to Evesham United at the start of the 21/22 season where he made three appearances before moving to Highworth Town. At Highworth, the midfielder made 19 appetences in all competitions scoring three goals, before in the same season moving to Cinderford Town. At Cinderford in 21/22, Holland made three appearances. The Next season Holland spent the first half of the campaign at the club, where he scored two in 15 games. The youngster then joined the Mitres in the second part of the 22/23 season, where he played 13 games scoring once. However, this season has been the breakthrough season for Holland. The midfielder loves to take on players either down the byline or in the middle of the park and he also has an excellent shot on him to. Factor in that the youngster is also lethal in the box and can play further upfront, shows the former Evesham man has a bright future in the non-league game.
Tavistock AFC last five results:
Wednesday 17th January- Tavistock AFC 6-2 Frome Town
Saturday 13th January- Tavistock AFC 0-2 Exmouth Town
Tuesday 26th December- Tavistock AFC 1-2 Bideford AFC
Saturday 23rd December- Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2-1 Tavistock AFC
Saturday 16th December- Tavistock AFC 2-3 Bashley FC
Bishop’s Cleeve last five results:
Saturday 13th January- Bishop’s Cleeve 6-1 Melksham Town
Saturday 6th January- Bishop’s Cleeve 4-0 Larkhall Athletic
Monday 1st January- Evesham United 1-0 Bishop’s Cleeve
Tuesday 26th December- Bishop’s Cleeve 2-2 Cribs FC
Saturday 23rd December- Wimborne Town 1-0 Bishop’s Cleeve
Match Information: Saturday 27th January 2024: Kick Off 3PM
Ticket Information: From Bishop’s Cleeve official Website
Ground: Kayte Lane, Southam, Bishop Cleeve, Cheltenham, GL52 3PD
Adults: £10
Concessions: £7
14-18: £3
Under 14s (accompanied by an adult): Free.
