Match Report: Larkhall Athletic vs Tavistock AFC

Larkhall versus Tavistock Match Report!!
By Luca Sperti

A late Liam Prynn penalty and heroics by Lambs goalkeeper Aaron Dearing ensure Lambs take point back to Devon in an enthralling 2-2 draw with Larkhall Athletic!!

Tavi came into their first game of 2025 making five changes from the side which were defeated at home to Falmouth Town. Exeter City loanee Max Edgecombe, came into the side for his debut replacing former Exeter man Alfie Cunnigham who dropped to the bench. Cunnigham was joined on the bench by Tallan Burns and Ed Harrison, with the two midfielders replaced by Brooklyn Wilkins and Iestyn Harris in the starting eleven. Following suspension Joe Alaman also returned to the side replacing Jacca Cavendish, with young Harry French also coming back into the side replacing Jacob Bowker.

Larkhall started the game of strong, with forward Evra Yao causing problems for the Lambs defence due to his pace and strengthen. The former Bootle man won a corner for the Larks in the 2nd minute after flicking a ball of Joel Jackson. The resulting corner, saw the home side nearly take the lead after the ball was won by Eben Mortimer-Taylor, with the wingers header beaten Aaron Dearing, but not talisman Liam Prynn on the line, who headed the ball away to safety. In the 6th minute the Lambs created a chance from a corner, after a ball swung in by new man Edgecombe was headed by Jackson. However, the youngsters header was comfortably caught by Adam Forster in the Larks net.

In the 14th minute, after a quiet few minutes the Lambs won a freekick after Prynn did well to make it to the right-wing and win a corner of Spencer Dymond-Hall. The resulting corner saw the Lambs take the lead, after a ball by Edgecombe from the right was flicked by Prynn towards goal. The ball flicked of the foot of the Lambs top scorer and of Larks midfielder Aaron Hicks and past the helpless Forster. The goal is one the unfortunate Hicks would not like to claim, however unfortunately for the Number Eight it was the midfielders touch on the ball which made all the difference.

Two minutes later, the Larks won a freekick after Ethan Wirght tripped Max Williams. The resulting cross by Williams was cleared by Wilkins for a corner to the away side. In the 20th minute the home side equalised. Dymond-Hall picked the ball up for the Larks and made his way into the box, before being tackled expertly by the recovering Wilkins. However, the tackle by Wilkins only fell as far as Mortimer-Taylor, who from outside the box bent a curling shot from the left-wing into the right-corner. The strike hit the inside of the post before rolling in, leaving Dearing in the Lambs goal with no chance.
Following the goal, the Lambs look to re-take the lead and came close to reach this goal after Luke Steer did well to take on Jack Camm and send in a miraculous cross, which was missed by everyone in the box before going out. The aforementioned Camm, was once again involved in the action in the 25th minute with the midfielder picking up the first card of the afternoon after a late challenge on Jackson. Six minutes later, Prynn was carded for the Lambs after kicking the ball away from Will Merrett, to prevent a Larkhall throw.

In the 34th minute, a big chance for the home side saw Dearing required to be at his best after a shot from Dymond-Hall, with the former Okehampton man doing well to push the ball to safety. A minute later, the shot-stopper did well to prevent the Larks taking the lead, with the Lambs Number One saving a low shot by Williams with his feet before retrieving the second ball.

In the 40th minute, the lively Yao did well to win a freekick in a dangerous position after being tripped by Jackson. Williams stepped up from the freekick, smashing an effort low and hard to the right-corner, which was tipped away expertly by Dearing in the Lambs goal who was having a brilliant match.

Despite the home side having plenty of chances, it was the Lambs who came closest before half-time. Steer did well to slip the ball to French who picked the ball up on the left-wing. The winger took his time before picking out Prynn, who looked to have an easy tapping. However unfortunately for the Lambs Prynn’s goal bound effort was blocked expertly a few-yards away from the line by Dymond-Hall, before being cleared. Not long later, the Referee blew for half-time with it all being to play for in the second half.

The Lambs started the second half, with the first change of the encounter, with Alfie Cunnigham entering the pitch replacing left-back Ethan Wright. The change saw Edgecombe move to left-back and Cunnigham deployed at his usual left-wing position. In the 48th minute midfielder Ruben Kane picked up the Lambs second card of the afternoon after a late challenge on Hicks in midfield. Two minutes later the Lambs had their first effort of the second half, after Steer curled a shot from outside the box just over Forster’s bar.

In the 58th minute Tavi looked to have won a penalty after a through ball by Prynn found Steer, who made his way into the box before being tripped by Forster after physical contact. However fortunately for the Larks, the Linesman on the far side saved Forster’s blushes with a late flag which angered plenty of the Lambs contingent in the ground.

Two minutes later, the home side went down the other end and took the lead for the first time in the encounter. Good hold up play by the impressive Yao, saw the diminutive forward lay the ball to Mortimer-Taylor, who made his way into the box and smashed a shot which was saved well by Dearing. However, the Larkhall winger reacted quickest to the second-ball, smashing the ball into the net for his second of the game.

In the 67th minute Hicks was lucky not to be sent off for the home side after a late high challenge on Jackson. The young midfielder for the Larks was booked for the challenge, with play halted after the Lambs centre-back received treatment. In the 68th minute the Lambs made their first sub of the afternoon with Burns replacing Wilkins in the midfield.

In the 70th minute, the Lambs should have been level after a corner was taken short to Burns, who sent in a beautiful curling cross to Steer. Only a few yards out and with only the keeper to beat, the young forward got to much power on his header, with his glancing effort flicking over Forster’s net from distance. The lively attacker was left disappointed he didn’t do better with his effort from close range. In the 77th minute, the impressive Steer had two shots from distance which were both testing for Forster on the astro turf surface. The inform attacker, who picked up Man of the Match in the last two games, was looking to created something out of nothing which he has done plenty of times this season.

In the 78th minute, the Lambs made their third sub of the afternoon with Kane being replaced by young Henry Donovan. In the 80th minute, the home side were awarded a penalty after the impressive Yao did well to beat Jackson for pace before going down after an altercation with the defender. The Referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot, despite many in the crowd left confused. Hicks stepped up from the spot for the Larks, smashing an effort towards the bottom left-corner, which was saved expertly by Dearing, who guessed right with a quite ridiculous save.

In the 82nd minute, the Lambs had a chance for an equaliser with French slipping in Donovan who smashed a shot from the left of the box just wide of Forster’s near post. In the 84th minute, Dearing did expertly again to save a goal bound shot from Mortimer-Taylor before parrying the ball to safety. In the 87th minute, Burns was carded for the away side after a trip on Hicks near the centre-circle. In the 90th minute, the home side made their first sub of the afternoon with Alex Lambert replacing the influential Hicks.

In the fourth minute of five added on, the Lambs won a penalty after a through ball found Steer who took a touch before being clattered by a host of Larkhall bodies. Larkhall captain Thomas Bradely was the player who tripped the attacker, with the captain lucky to escape a yellow. French and Forster were both showed a yellow after the decision, with both fighting over the ball. Talisman Liam Prynn stepped up for the Lambs, smashing his penalty into the bottom right-corner, with Forster diving the other way. The goal was the striker’s 17th of a incredible season, which has seen the striker beat his tally for the whole of 23/24 season. Not long later the Referee blew for the full-time whistle, with the Lambs picking up a last-minute equaliser for the second time in as many away games. The Lambs are in away action next Saturday as they take the trip to Exmouth Town, in a Devon Derby. Larkhall are also in action next Saturday as they take the trip to Cornwall to take on a inform Falmouth Town.

Lineups:

Larkhall Athletic: Forster, Goodall, Dymond-Hall, Merrett, Bradley, Camm, Williams, Hicks (Lambert 90), Yao (Prior 90), Simons, Mortimer-Taylor

Tavistock AFC: Dearing, Wright (Cunnigham 46), Alman, Jackson, Prynn, French, Edgecombe, Wilkins (Burns 68), Steer, Kane (Donovan 78), Harris