Stoke Gabriel. 1 – 4 TAFC 1sts
The Lambs travelled to Stoke Gabriel on Bank Holiday Monday and came away with a convincing victory. The visitors started brightly and home keeper Adam Simpson was called upon to make a smart save to deny Toby Gossling from opening the Lambs account.
The first real threat from the home team came in the 11th minute when Jack Ord was called upon to make a save from Ollie Aplin. Three minutes later Crago made a good run down the right and his cross into the penalty area was just out of the reach of the on rushing Danny Zalick and Scott Rennie.
The Lambs were now in control, producing some very good attacking football, so it was no surprise that they took the lead in the 20th minute when another fine cross from Crago, was partially cleared by the home defence, the ball fell to Dan Follett 20 yards from goal, his thunderous shot flashed past the home keeper into the top corner of the net. The Lambs increased their lead five minutes later when the visitors were awarded another free kick, Warren Daw’s fierce shot came back off the keeper and Scott Rennie was on hand to head home from two yards.
The Lambs continued to dominate the game, and made it three in the 35th minute following another fine move, an inch perfect from Dan Follett saw Danny Zalic head home from six yards.
The Lambs created two more good goal scoring opportunities a before the interval but efforts from Zalick, Parnell, and Swain went wide of the target. Shortly before the interval the Lambs lost striker Rennie with a dislocated shoulder.
The home team certainly made it a more competitive game in the second half, with the play being a much more even affair. In the opening minute after sloppy defending resulted in Aplin crashing his shot agains the bar from twelve yards. The visitors had a period when they lost their composure and Jack Ord in the visitors goal was called upon to make a couple of smart saves Kelly and Harding.
The home team reduced the deficit when the Lambs defence was split open with a long ball from defence, which allowed Aplin to slot the ball home from the yards. Things got worse for the Lambs when Ryan Swain was sent off with fifteen minutes remaining. The Lambs dug in and still managed to continue to have more than their fair share of possession. Substitute Lewis Coombes scored the goal of the game, when he collected the ball on the left, he moved into the penalty area and weaved his way pass three defenders, before dummying the keeper and slotting the ball home from two yards.
A Tom Kelly went wide of the Lambs goal and just before the final whistle new signing Graham Gallway saw his fine effort go inches wide of the target.
The Lambs fully deserved this victory, and apart from a short period in the second half they controlled the game.
