Match Preview: Malvern Town vs Tavistock AFC

Lambs make trip back up the motorway as they take on promotion-chasing Malvern Town!!

By Luca Sperti

Tavi were last in action on Tuesday as they once again made the trip to Gloucestershire to take on Hartpury. Against the young Acorns side, the Lambs found it hard to cope with Louis Manning and forward Billy Osborn causing plenty of problems for the Lambs side. Only five minutes in, the hosts took the lead with both attackers involved. Manning picked the ball up on the right and did well to beat Rhys Lindsell and send a looping ball to the back post. The ball was met perfectly by Noah Coates, who flicked the ball into the path of captain Osborn, who tapped the ball into the roof of the net from close range. The strike was the forward’s ninth of an impressive season. The forward was just getting started, with his throw-in in the 33rd minute leading to the Acorns’ second. Osborn’s cross was met by Nathan Jenkins. The midfielder did superbly to take the ball past Lambs captain Ben Cross and Josh Baxter before slotting the ball into the far corner past the helpless Dan Holman, for his second in as many games. In the 38th minute, the hosts made it three with it being no surprise Osborn was once again involved. A long hopeful ball was met expertly by the number nine, who drifted out wide. The captain then sent in a peach of a cross which was met by Coates, who headed the ball home for his second of the week. Two minutes into the second period, it was four to the hosts. The clever Osborn once again drifted to the right, where he sent in another excellent delivery to Coates, who couldn’t miss. The midfielder calmly slotted the ball home for his second and the Acorns’ fourth of the evening. In the 53rd minute, it went from bad to worse for the Lambs as Hartpury made it five. Acorns attacker Vanylson Alexander Da Costa Silva was left with space outside the box, with the forward assessing his options before smashing a powerful shot into the bottom right corner, leaving Holman helpless. In the 63rd minute, the hosts had a free-kick in a dangerous position after a foul by Craig Duff on a Hartpury man. The resulting free-kick was whipped perfectly by left-back Drew Robinson into the far corner, making it six to the Acorns. The Lambs did pull a goal back in the 71st minute after a cross by Jacob Bowker was flicked home by Jack Crago for his fifth of the league season. Despite having a decent last 25 minutes, the Lambs will be looking to play a lot better on this trip to Gloucestershire than in their midweek outing.

Malvern Town were last in action on Saturday as they picked up an impressive 4-2 victory away at Exmouth Town. Despite the Hillsiders being on top in the encounter, it was in fact the hosts who took the lead. A free-kick in the 21st minute eventually fell to Town defender Sam Morcom, who smashed a powerful volley into the far corner, leaving Josh Bishop in the Malvern goal with no chance. After still being in control, the away side scored an equaliser in the 45th minute. A cross by Ben Baxter deflected and struck the bar before falling to former Plymouth Argyle striker Ryan Brunt, whose scuffed effort was deemed to cross the line. In the 52nd minute, the visitors took the lead with a goal which was route one at its finest. A long kick from Bishop was flicked on by the experienced Brunt to Harry Clark, who beat the offside trap before smashing a smart finish past the helpless Aaron Dearing. The strike was the forward’s seventh of the season. Six minutes later, the visitors grabbed a third with another long ball from Bishop finding Clark, who flicked the ball over to Levi Francis. The former Swindon man took an excellent touch before smashing an effort into the top right corner, with the strike being the tricky winger’s third of the league campaign. Just after the hour mark, it was game over with captain Joe Tumelty floating a curling free-kick into the top left corner, leaving Dearing with no chance. The strike was the dangerous midfielder’s sixth of the league season. The hosts did pull a goal back in the 84th minute after a nice finish from Ben Griffin, but the Worcestershire outfit held on for a big win.

The Hillsiders currently sit in the play-off places in fifth position after 13 wins, one draw and five defeats so far this term. The claret and blue side have lost the most games in the top five, with their three defeats at home in the league the worst out of any in the top 10. These defeats include a 6-1 drumming at home to Frome Town. Despite this, the club’s six away wins is the second best in the league, with the club’s impressive performance away at Exmouth showing their away excellence. Despite scoring on average the same as the rest of the sides in the play-offs, Saturday’s hosts have conceded 31 goals, which is nine more than any other play-off side, with the number only being seven fewer than the goals the Lambs have conceded. Stuart Henderson’s side still sit rock bottom with three wins, one draw and 13 losses to their name. Both sides have only drawn once so far this term, which is the lowest amount of draws in the league, with only Shaftesbury also having one draw to their name.

A win at Malvern for the Lambs could cut the gap to four points if other results go their way. A win for the hosts could see them jump into second if results go their way.
The last match between the two sides saw the Hillsiders pick up an important win at Langsford Park. After a quiet first half, the 51st minute saw two big chances for the away side, which both required impressive saves from Aaron Dearing. Firstly, attacker Jack Watts cut inside from the left before curling a shot towards the far corner. This was expertly tipped away by Dearing, before the ball was retrieved by Sam Clark, who beat two and drove a shot to the bottom right corner, which was tipped away by the Lambs shot-stopper. The away side opened the scoring in the encounter in the 77th minute after a cross from the right was flicked on by Harry Clark into the path of current Bishop’s Cleeve man Watts, who flicked the ball home from close range. Five minutes later, Watts grabbed his second, doubling Malvern’s advantage after a quite delightful chip over Dearing after controlling a clearance from Malvern goalkeeper Bishop. The last match between the two sides at the HDAnywhere Stadium was an enthralling 2-2 draw back in November 2024. The home side took the lead in the encounter only a minute into the second half after a flick-up by Watts was met by fellow striker Sam Clark. The young forward did well to flick a strike under the body of Dearing and into the net. Four minutes later, the Lambs won a penalty after current Exmouth man Ben Steer was tripped by Alex Bell. The former Swindon man’s trailing leg caught Steer following a neat skill by the energetic winger. Liam Prynn stepped up from the spot for the Lambs and smashed his spot-kick into the bottom right corner. Two minutes later, the Lambs took the lead after a Ben Steer ball found fellow Exmouth man Luke Steer. The young forward took his time before faking the ball past two Malvern defenders and calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner. In the 78th minute, the home side won a penalty after a shot from Watts was deemed to hit the hand of a Tavi man from close range. Watts stepped up for the Hillsiders, rolling his effort into the right corner, sending Dearing the wrong way to equalise the match, which was the last goal of an energetic encounter. The last match between these two sides before this season also occurred at the HDAnywhere Stadium, with the Lambs picking up three injuries in the first half in a tight encounter. The Lambs lost star men Alex Battle, Joe O’Loughlin and Liam Prynn to injury in the first half and also went into the break 1-0 down. The goal for the Hillsiders came in the 30th minute with a Joe Bullock cross from the left tapped in by former Lamb Jordan Annear. Despite many players playing in strange positions, including centre-back Scott Simmons playing as a striker, the Lambs equalised in the 74th minute. Right-back Iestyn Harris slipped in Tallan Burns down the right wing, who sent in a deep cross which met the head of Ed Harrison. The midfielder powered his header into the roof of the net, sending the Lambs away contingent into pandemonium. However, these celebrations were cut short in the 90th minute after Malvern retook the lead, after Annear poked home a corner by Bullock to grab his brace and end the Lambs’ late play-off push. The reverse fixture in 23/24 between these two sides saw Tavi coming out 2-0 winners. Tavi started off the fixture well and took the lead in the 22nd minute thanks to Battle. A long through-ball looking for Battle was overhit and fell to Malvern keeper Josh Bishop, who came rushing out of his box. The goalkeeper took a heavy touch which the Tavi forward noticed, intercepting the ball off the young keeper before smashing the ball into an empty net. The Lambs doubled their lead in the encounter in the 27th minute after Tallan Burns beat the offside trap before unselfishly squaring the ball to Battle for his brace. On a cold Wednesday evening, very little happened in the second half, with the Lambs holding on for an impressive victory.
Levi Francis – The 22-year-old winger started his career at Swindon Town, where he was highly thought of, featuring heavily for the under-18s as well as featuring for the senior side against Peterborough in a pre-season friendly at the beginning of the 21/22 season. The midfielder was even given a first-team number (33) that season at Swindon Town. Francis went on to make his pro debut for the Robins against Colchester in the EFL Trophy on 30 November 2021, where he played 57 minutes in a 1-2 defeat. Francis spent time out on loan at Highworth Town from Swindon in the 21/22 season, where he made five appearances. The attacking midfielder, who loves to shoot from outside the box, also spent time out on loan at National League South side Chippenham Town on a work-experience loan, where he made one appearance. Following his release from Swindon, Francis joined Slimbridge, where he made 33 appearances in the 22/23 season but couldn’t help Slimbridge from dropping out of the Southern League despite some positive performances. Following a successful trial, Francis joined Malvern. At the Hillsiders in 23/24, Francis made 34 appearances, with the majority coming on the right wing, scoring three goals against Melksham, Willand and Bashley. Francis played 47 times last season, scoring four times against the likes of Falmouth, Larkhall and Bideford. The youngster was deployed in a variety of positions last season, which included right-back, left wing and even centre-midfield, which showed the versatility of the former Swindon man. Francis started the beginning of this season at right-back but has recently returned to his preferred left-wing spot. Francis has scored four goals this season, including his brilliant effort against Exmouth Town. The winger has also scored against Mousehole and Hartpury in the league this season. A dangerous winger who is quick and also strong, Francis will be one to look out for in this clash.

Malvern Town Last Five Results:

Saturday 29 November – Exmouth Town 2-4 Malvern Town

Tuesday 25 November – Malvern Town 3-2 Larkhall Athletic

Saturday 22 November – Bristol Manor Farm 4-1 Malvern Town

Tuesday 18 November – Brixham AFC 1-4 Malvern Town

Saturday 15 November – Malvern Town 3-1 Portishead Town

Tavistock AFC Last Five Results:

Tuesday 2 December – Hartpury FC 6-1 Tavistock AFC

Tuesday 25 November – Falmouth Town 4-1 Tavistock AFC – Southern League

Saturday 8 November – Westbury United 3-2 Tavistock AFC – Southern League

Saturday 1 November – Tavistock AFC 0-1 Didcot Town – Southern League

Tuesday 28 October – Shaftesbury FC 2-0 Tavistock AFC – Southern League