Match Report: Tavistock AFC vs Didcot Town

Tavi pick up first draw of the season in six-goal thriller against a strong Didcot Town!!

 

By Luca Sperti

 

The Lambs came into the encounter making one change from the side which won away at Mousehole, with Aaron Dearing returning in between the sticks replacing Jamie Dudley. The Bench remained the same from the victory in Cornwall, with the only difference seeing Manager Stuart Henderson returning to Manage the side after unavailability on Tuesday. Moving into the encounter and the first bit of action was in form of a stoppage, after young Diddy midfielder Owen Smith picked up a slight knock. However luckily for the green and white wearing visitors, the Number 2 was okay to carry on. Three minutes later, the Lambs had a great chance to take the lead. A through ball by Luke Steer fell to the feet of Liam Prynn, who took a great touch before getting one on one with the Diddy keeper. However, the strikers poked effort, was saved well by Leigh Bedwell in the Didcot net. Despite this huge chance, the ball was kept alive by the Lambs, with Ben Steer going down the left-flank before cutting inside and smashing a shot, which was parried by Bedwell. The ball fell perfectly to Prynn who smashed a shot, which was blocked expertly on the line by Adam Learoyd. However the ball eventually found Luke Steer, who had the easiest of tapings to finish the move he started. The goal was the forwards fifth of the season, with all of the attackers goals coming at Langsford Park this term. In the 14th minute the Lambs won a corner after excellent wing play by Ben Steer saw the winger take on Learoyd before the Diddy defender cleared the ball out. A minute later the away-side had their first half-chance of the encounter, after left-winger Patrick Osbourne made his way infield before smashing a speculative effort, which was saved well by Dearing. In the 18th minute, good play by Prynn saw the forward look to find Alex Battle, but the forwards effort was just over hit. In the 19th minute a corner for the Railwaymen looked to catch Dearing out, with the goalkeeper scrambling. However luckily for the Lambs Number One, the Referee blew for a foul on the shot-stopper after a push by Taylor-James Bedwell.

 

In the 24th minute, great play down the right-wing by the impressive Ben Steer, saw the former Exmouth man send in a low-cross which was just inches away from finding talisman Prynn, before being cleared by Learoyd on the stretch. A half-chance for the away side, two minutes later saw Jenson Wright take on a effort from distance which was smashed high and wide of Dearing’s goal. A minute later the away side equalised. A pass by Smith found winger Connor Barrett, who ventured infield and took his time before arrowing a shot from distance into the top left-corner, leaving Dearing with no chance. It was a rocket from the Diddy Number Seven and one which was worth equalising any encounter. The strike was the wingers fourth of the season and second for the Red and White outfit. In the 29th minute the Lambs won a freekick after right-back Iestyn Harris, was tripped by a late challenge through the back by Osbourne, who was lucky to not pick up a yellow. The eventual cross by Ben Steer, reached the head of Joe Alman, but the defenders headed was planted over the bar. In the 33rd minute, the Lambs had a second and it was a Steer again, this time being Ben Steer. A curling through ball by Battle looked to find Ben Steer, who was lurking on the last defender. Bedwell in the Diddy goal came out to try and win the ball but got in the way of defender Luke Carnell whose slide tackle, went under his own keeper leaving Ben Steer with the ball and an empty net. The forward took his time, before calmly slotting the ball in for his third this term. Four minutes later, the away side equalised for the second time in the encounter A freekick from the right-flank, swung in by Wright found the head of Carnell, whose guiding header was stabbed home into the roof of the net, by Diddy left-back Cameron McNeil. The strike was the left-backs first of the season and one which he finished like a top-striker. Ruben Kane was given the first yellow card for the Lambs after the goal for some choice words towards the Referee about the freekick decision A minute later, the Lambs had a great chance to re-take the lead, after excellent play by Ethan Wright saw the fullback get down the by-line and send in a cross which was parried into the air by Bedwell. The ball fell to Battle, on his weaker foot with his effort scuffing the floor before eventually being cleared by McNeil. In the 43rd minute, the away-side thought they had taken the lead, after a cross was headed into the net by Carnell. However, the former Banbury United man, was deemed to be in an offside position, which was a massive relief to the Lambs fans and players. In the 44th minute, the Railwaymen picked up their first yellow card of the afternoon after Barrett was booked for the away side after a trip on Wright, down the left-flank. Moving into added time of the first half and a chance for the away side, saw McNeil find Barret who once again cut inside before smashing a shot just over the top left-corner. In the second minute of first-half stoppages, the Lambs won a penalty after the lively Ben Steer was brough down by Smith. Lambs Number Nine, Liam Prynn stepped up from the spot and smashed his spot-kick into the bottom right-corner despite Bedwell diving the same way. The Penalty was Prynn’s third spot kick in the last three and 13th of the season for the Lambs main man. Not long-later, the Referee blew for half-time in a lively first-half encounter, which saw both teams have plenty of chances.

Moving into the second period and the Lambs won a freekick in the 49th minute after a trip on Ruben Kane, by Diddy captain Samuel Barder. In the 52nd minute, great play by Ethan Wright saw the fullback gallop forward before slipping in Ben Steer, down the left-wing who took his time before winning a corner of Taylor-Jay Bedwell. In the 56th minute the Lambs were let of the hook after loosing the ball. Wright slipped a ball to Kane, in the middle of the park who let the ball go under his legs before it was intercepted by Barder. With plenty of green shirts in attacking areas, the Captain slipped in Osbourne, who from the left-flank rolled a effort just wide of the post. The inform winger, was left disappointed he didn’t do better with the chance. In the 61st minute, Didcot manager Jamie Heapy was given a yellow card by the Referee after constant complaints throughout the game. In the 63rd minute, a big chance for the on-top visitors saw Barrett head the ball towards Carnell who header over from close range, with Dearing beaten. A minute later, a through ball from Barder slipped in Osbourne, who looked to take his time. However this was read by Lambs goalkeeper Dearing, who came out and slid the attacker winning the ball before it was eventually cleared to safety. A minute later, the Lambs made their first chance of the afternoon with Alex Battle being replaced by the experienced Tallan Burns. In the 68th minute the aforementioned Burns had a shot with his effort, saved well by Bedwell after a through ball by Wright to the midfielder.

 

In the 70th minute, the away side had a third and an equaliser. A long hopeful through ball was missed by Lambs defender Charlie Elkington and capitalised by the inform Barrett, who glided through before taking his time and calmly slotting the ball past Dearing, for his second of the game and fifth of the season. In the 72nd minute, a chance for the away side saw a corner punched by Dearing fall into the path of Wright. The former Oxford City midfielder half-volley was smashed just wide of the far-post, with Dearing looking slightly worried. In the 73rd minute, Didcot captain Barder was given a yellow card after a foul on the lively Ben Steer. In the 74th minute, the Lambs made a double change, with Ben Steer and Ruben Kane replaced by Brookyln Wilkins and Alfie Cunnigham. In the 80th minute the Lambs made another sub with the influential Luke Steer replaced by the versatile Ben Fowles. In the 83rd minute Wilkins was given a yellow card after the young midfielder was penalised for a foul on Wright to prevent a counter. A minute later the Lambs came a post away from re-taking the lead. Great play down the wing by Cunnigham saw the winger slip in Burns, who cut inside before poking a shot with his right foot, which hit the inside of the right-post before falling into the grateful arms of Bedwell. Two minutes later, Cunnigham once again cut-inside from the left-flank, with his effort being blocked well by the head of Carnell. In the 89th minute a final sub for the Lambs, saw Joe Alman be replaced by Yeovil Town loanee Jacob Shore. Into seven minutes of added time, Dearing in the Lambs goal made a incredible double save to keep it at 3-3. A shot from Osbourne was saved well by the goalkeeper before a follow up curling effort was tipped away superbly by the shot-stopper at full-stretch. Not long later, the Referee blew for full-time with the Lambs picking up their first draw of the season in their 12th League match. The draw sees the Lambs move up to 13th and Didcot drop down to 12th in the table. The Lambs now turn their attention to Wednesday as they take on Bemerton Heath Harlequins at the A-Class Arena. Didcot are next in action on Saturday as they welcome Shaftesbury to the Draycot Engineering Loop Meadow Stadium.

Lineups:

Tavistock AFC: Dearing, Wright, Alman (Shore 89), Elkington, Harrison, Prynn, Battle (Burns 65), B Steer (Cunnigham 74), L Steer (Fowles 80), Kane (Wilkins 74), Harris

Didcot Town: Bedwell, Smith, McNeil, T-J Bedwell, Carnell, Learoyd, Barrett, Barder, Preen, Wright, Osbourne