Match Preview: Ilfracombe Town vs Tavistock AFC
Tavi returns to competitive action with trip to North Devon in the Fa Cup
By Luca Sperti
The Lambs come into their first competitive fixture of the season against Ilfracombe, after a hectic pre-season schedule which saw the Red and Black outfit play 10 friendlies against a whole range of different level opposition. In their 10 friendly matches, nine which were played at Langsford Park, Stuart Henderson’s side picked up some impressive victories including a 4-1 victory against Devon rivals Plymouth Parkway and a 7-3 victory against Okehampton Argyle. The Lambs last pre-season match saw the Devonshire based outfit lose 1-2 at home to Callington Town in sunny conditions. Tavistock took the lead in the encounter in the 19th minute, after winger Jacob Bowker curled a ball from just-outside the box, into the corner. The goal capped off an impressive pre-season for the diminutive winger. However only five minutes later, the visitors in yellow equalised after a cross found Cally Town Number Nine Kevin McCallion. The striker took his time before rolling the ball into the corner. Despite an impressive first 20 minutes for the Lambs, it was Callington who had the better chances in the first-half, but the Peninsula League side couldn’t add a second in the first 45 minutes. However, in the 61st minute the visitors deservedly took the lead thanks to a header by Lee Robinson, which went through the gloves off Tavistock goalkeeper Aaron Dearing, it is one which the Tavistock Number One would like to forget. Despite a few half-chances in the second half for Tavi, including a chance for main man Liam Prynn, the game finished 1-2 to the visitors. Speaking after the game manager Stuart Henderson mentioned how the visitors “deservedly came out winners.”
The Home side in Saturday’s encounter Ilfracombe, started their competitive season off last Saturday, due to the Western League starting two weeks before the Southern League. The Bluebirds started their season off with a 1-2 loss at home to Wellington AFC. The full blue outfit, did take the lead in the encounter after a Billy Tucker snapshot was smashed into the near post. The Tangerines then pulled one back in the second half in the 66th minute through Jake Quick, before Jake’s brother Miles added a second for the visitors only two minutes later. The strike from Miles was a thing of beauty, with the attacker smashing the ball home from 30-yards out. Ilfracombe were also in League action on Tuesday, as they travelled to promotion favourites Bridgewater United. In the encounter against the Red and Black outfit, disaster struck as goalkeeper Adam Chamberlain went down with a shoulder Injury. Two minutes later, it was announced the goalkeeper couldn’t carry on and was substituted. However, with no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, defender Harry Taffs had to go in between the sticks. Against one of the promotions favourites and with no goalkeeper for the majority of the game, Ilfracombe were up against it, but the Bluebirds still created some great chances. In the first-half the Combe came closest after a Jamie Hearsay shot hit the post. However, the away side eventually conceded after the home side were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Josh Wadham. Ilfracombe currently sit 17th in the Western League Table, after their two defeats from their two matches, with only Ivybridge, Oldland Abbotonians and Welton Rovers below the North Devon outfit.
The last three matches between the two clubs have seen Tavistock be victorious. The last match between theses two sides was in the St Luke’s Challenge Cup in January of 2023, with the Lambs coming out 0-4 winners at Marlborough Park. The Red and Black outfit took the lead in the encounter after a corner was headed in by current Plymouth Parkway centre-back, Taylor Scarff. In the 12th minute off the encounter, it was 0-2 to the Lambs after Liam Prynn found Josh Parry, who smashed the ball home from 20-yards. In the 66th minute a cross fell to the feet off current Lamb Ben Fowles, who smashed the ball home to make it 0-3 on the night. Before Josh Grant made it 0-4 in the 80th minute. The last meeting in the league between these two sides came in the Toolstation Western League, with Tavi winning 3-0 at Langsford Park which was helped by a brace from current Tavi striker and talisman Liam Prynn. The Reverse fixture in that season, once again saw Tavi come out on top, this time 1-2 at Marlborough Park. Tavi goal scorers on the day were the aforementioned Liam Prynn and Warren Daw. The last-time the two teams met in the Fa Cup, was 16-years-ago with Tavistock coming our 1-4 winners at Marlborough Park.
Ilfracombe Player in Focus:
Billy Tucker- a player who joined the Bluebirds over the summer, Tucker is a familiar face to many fans of non-league football in the North Devon area. This is due to the fact, Tucker has played numerous games for fellow Devonshire based outfits Bideford and Barnstaple Town during his career. A fans favourite wherever he has been Tucker, first started his career in Devon with a spell at Bideford, making a handful of appearances in the 12/13 season. The next season, saw Tucker score four goals in the League, which he then followed up with seven the season after. However, it was the 16/17 season, where Tucker first started banging in the goals. Still with the Robins, the diminutive frontman, who can also play on the wing, scored 13 goals in 44 games in the 16/17 season. This season included goals against the likes of Tiverton Town, Wimborne Town and even a brace against Taunton Town in the Southern League Cup. The next season saw Tucker once again, have a prolific season in front of goal, with the Number Nine scoring 12 in only 28 games. This included goals against Bishop’s Cleeve, Larkhall and Cinderford Town. Tucker then scored 13 in the 18/19 season including goals against Melksham Town, Bristol Manor Farm and Cirencester Town. The next season saw Tucker score four in nine appearances before October with the Robins. The striker even managed to clog up half-century of goals at Bideford, with the fiftieth coming in a 5-3 loss away at Cinderford. However not long after striking fifty for the North Devon outfit, Tucker moved down to Cornwall to sign for Helston Athletic. Whilst at Helston, the forward was on fire, score worldie after worldie with many going viral on social media. Despite having some excellent moments and games at the Cornwall based outfit, the forward couldn’t guide the Blues to promotion and in the 21/22 season, the forward returned to North Devon to sign and captain Barnstaple Town. During his first season at Barum, Tucker scored five in 21, including goals against Frome Town, Evesham United and Winchester City. However, the frontman couldn’t help the Barum stay in the Southern League, with the red outfit finishing bottom off the table. The next two seasons at Barnstaple saw the forward have some excellent moments, including scoring a last-minute freekick from 30-yards out. However, Barnstaple failed to win promotion back to the Southern League, despite two years off trying. Following a managerial change at Barum, Tucker looked for passengers new and sign for Saturdays host over the summer. The striker has already found the back-off the net this season, in the clubs 1-2 lost to Wellington at Marlborough Park.
Ilfracombe’s last five results:
Tuesday 30th July- Bridgewater United 1-0 Ilfracombe Town AFC- Western League
Saturday 27th July- Ilfracombe Town AFC 1-2 Wellington AFC- Western League
Wednesday 24th July- Launceston Fc 0-6 Ilfracombe Town AFC- Pre-season
Saturday 20th July- Ilfracombe Town AFC 2-1 Okehampton Argyle- Pre-season
Tuesday 2nd July- Camelford Fc 0-2 Ilfracombe Town AFC- Pre-Season
Tavistock AFC’s last five results:
Tuesday 30th July- Tavistock AFC 1-2 Callington Town- Pre-Season
Saturday 27th July- Tavistock AFC 2-3 Plymouth Argyle XI- Pre-Season
Friday 26th July- Tavistock AFC 2-1 Liskeard Athletic- Pre-Season
Tuesday 23rd July- Tavistock AFC 3-0 Barnstaple Town- Pre-Season
Thursday 18th July- Tavistock AFC 7-3 Okehampton Argyle- Pre-Season
Match Information:
Saturday 3rd August – Kick-off 3:00pm
Ticket Information: From Ilfracombe’s Facebook Page
Ground: Marlborough Park, Marlborough Way, Ilfracombe EX34, 8AB
Adults: £6
Concessions: £3
Under 18’s: £1
