Match Report: Tavistock AFC vs St Austell

By Luca Sperti

Lambs pick up first competitive win of the season in style after 5-0 victory over AFC St Austell in the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round!

Tavistock had a very busy summer with plenty of their key players from their previous Southern League seasons departing the club. Due to this Stuart Henderson brought in plenty of young players to give them their first taste of Step Four football. As well as this, the Lambs gaffer has also brought in some familiar faces over the summer to complete the fresh-looking Lambs squad. Wingers Kieran Edworthy and Jacob Bowker and midfielders Ben Fowles and Callum Watson have all returned to the Lambs with the first three all starting this encounter against St Austell.

Going into this fixture with Cornish side St Austell only three players from the Lambs starting eleven that finished the 24/25 season away at Thatcham started the encounter. These three players being defenders Joel Jackson and Iestyn Harris and forward Jack Crago. Four players starting the encounter were making their competitive debuts for the Lambs, however this wasn’t apparent as the Lambs started well in the encounter.

In the 3rd minute, the Lambs were just a lick of paint away from taking the lead. Former Helston Athletic forward Crago cut inside from the left taking the ball past Lilywhites right-back Sonny Cooper with ease before curling a powerful effort which smashed the upright. Unfortunately for the Lambs the forward’s effort was cleared by the St Austell defence before one of the lurking Lambs forwards could tap the ball home.

Seven minutes later, the Lambs had the ball in the back of the net after a corner from Jacob Bowker caused problems. The former Falmouth winger’s corner was eventually bundled home by a Lambs man, however the referee was quick to blow his whistle and rule out the goal after a foul on St Austell goalkeeper Alfie Eccles. A minute later, the on-top Lambs had another chance after a ball from Fowles found Edworthy, who took the ball past two St Austell midfielders before smashing a powerful effort just inches wide of Eccles’ far post. The former Plymouth Parkway attacker looked to be playing with a lot of confidence in attacking positions and it seemed to be showing.

In the 23rd minute, the visitors looked to be in after a through ball from midfield by Matt Pilkington found quick winger George Bills. The forward was in on goal but was prevented from testing debutant Will Howard in the Lambs goal by a great recovering challenge from Charlie Madden in defence for the Lambs, with the former Dorchester man’s slide tackle a really important one.

Madden’s slide tackle was shown to be important only six minutes later, with the Lambs taking the lead and scoring their first competitive goal of the season. The influential Crago was again causing problems down the left-hand side with the former Plymouth Parkway forward unleashing a curled effort towards the far post. The attacker’s effort once again hit the post, with Eccles beaten however this time Edworthy reacted quickest to rifle the ball home for his first goal in a Lambs shirt.

After the goal the visitors started to grow into the game and created chances with Pilkington being heavily involved. Firstly a header from the midfielder was blocked well by Lambs left-back Ethan Wright and then in the 38th minute, a shot from the midfielder was expertly tipped away by Howard in the Lambs net down to his left.

Not much happened after these chances in the first period with the referee calling for half-time with it still all to play for going into the second period.

Just like the end of the first half, the second half started slowly with both sides having half chances but the majority of the game being played in the middle of the park.However just before the hour mark, the Lambs added a second after a cross from Bowker met the head of Edworthy whose powerful effort was tipped onto the bar by Eccles.

However centre-back Joel Jackson was there to bundle the effort home on the second attempt from close range for his second in a Lambs shirt and first in 2025.

Four minutes later it was 3-0 to the Lambs and what a goal it was. Once again Crago was involved with the forward tiptoeing into the box with flair before the forward lost his footing. However the ball fell perfectly outside the box to Fowles. The midfielder took his time before unleashing a powerful strike into the right corner from 20 yards leaving Eccles with no chance.

After the third goal the Lambs were on top with the Red and Black outfit creating plenty of chances and also having the lion’s share of possession against the struggling visitors. With the game almost wrapped up going into the 82nd minute the Lambs made a triple substitution. Madden, goalscorer Jackson and Rhys Lindsell made way with Nick Salop and Ryan White coming on for their competitive debuts. They were also joined on the pitch by Ben Cross who returned to action after missing the whole of the 24/25 season with an injury which he suffered in pre-season of last year.

In the 87th minute it was four, with Crago getting the goal his overall play deserved. Another excellent cross from the right by Bowker was met by Crago who towered over a St Austell defender and smashed his header into the far corner past a helpless Eccles.

In the 2nd minute of added time, the Lambs made it five with Fowles adding his second after a through ball by Edworthy found the Lambs number eight who composed himself before poking a smart effort into the far corner. Not long later the referee blew for the full-time whistle, with the Lambs picking up their first competitive win of the season at the first time of asking. The defeat is St Austell’s third of the season with the Lilywhites now turning their attention back to league football. The Lambs are also next in action in the league as they kick off their Southern League campaign this coming Saturday as they take a trip to Badgers Hill to take on Frome Town.

Due to the victory in the FA Cup the Lambs will now take a trip to Barnstaple Town in the 1st Preliminary Round with the tie being played on Saturday the 16th August.

Line-ups:Tavistock: Howard, Wright, Jackson (Cross 82), Madden (Salop 82), Fowles, Edworthy, Crago, Bowker, Fisher, Lindsell (White 82), Harris

AFC St Austell: Eccles, Cooper, Rendle, Roberts, Pickering, Eccles, Marshall, Pilkington, Yates, Lang, Bills