Match Report: Tavistock AFC vs Portishead Town

Tavistock AFC were left frustrated after a spirited performance ended in a narrow 1-2 defeat
at home to Portishead Town at Langsford Park, despite late drama and long spells of
pressure from the hosts.

By Jamie Townsend

The Lambs went into Saturday’s encounter on the back of seven successive losses, with this
encounter only Tavi’s third home game since the start of November, with four successive
away games proving a tricky period for the West Devon outfit.

Portishead had begun the Southern League Division One South season well, finding
themselves in the top two at the start of play, with Stuart Henderson’s men knowing they
would have to be at their very best to get anything from the strong Somerset-based outfit.

Tavistock started the afair brightly, pressing early and carving out chances. Young forward
Ryan White went close inside ten minutes when he broke into the box but dragged his efort
wide, before further openings fell to Tom Chastey from range and Jack Crago, whose
close-range efort was cleared off the line by the Posset defence.

The Lambs continued to pile on pressure, with young midfielder Clark and Number 10
Chastey both testing the visiting goalkeeper, but the breakthrough would instead come at the
other end.

Against the run of play on 35 minutes, Portishead were awarded a penalty when Ethan
Feltham was brought down. Although the initial spot kick was saved, Feltham reacted
quickest to tuck away the rebound.

Five minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage as Feltham raced through again to
finish clinically and make it 0-2 to Posset at the break.

Tavistock regrouped after half-time and made changes in search of a way back into the
contest. Chances followed, including a powerful efort from Baxter and continued pressure
into the Portishead box, but frustration grew as the visitors defended stubbornly.

A brief flashpoint saw a stoppage following a challenge involving Donovan, before the
Lambs pushed forward in the closing stages.

Their persistence was finally rewarded deep into stoppage time when returning forward
Henry Donovan poked home from close range to pull one back and set up a nervy finale.

Despite a late surge, however, the equaliser wouldn’t come, and Portishead held on for all
three points.

A festive boost saw a season-high attendance at Langsford Park of 275.
The Lambs will take encouragement from a hard-working performance with positive spells
and will look to turn those positives into points when they travel to fellow Devon side and
fellow strugglers Brixham AFC next Saturday.