Match Preview: Tavistock AFC vs Larkhall AFC
Unbeaten in three Tavi, return to Langsford Park to face play-off chasing Larkhall Athletic!!!
By Luca Sperti
Tavistock will be hoping to make it back-to-back victories at Langsford Park, following the Lambs 2-0 win against Malvern, last Wednesday, thanks to an Alex Battle brace. The Lambs return to Langsford Park after an impressive performance and result at Cribbs, drawing 2-2 with the third-place outfit. The home side opened the scoring early in the match, through dangerman David Duru, who capitalised on a mistake by Aaron Dearing following a freekick taken by Ross McErlain. However, despite following behind early Tavi grew into the game and their chances of pulling a goal back in the encounter were heighten when Cribbs’ Starman Duru had to be taken off, due to a injury. In the 44th minute Tavi did equalise, thanks to a well worked training ground routine freekick, which saw Battle roll the ball to Liam Prynn, who calmly slotted the ball into the bottom-corner. In the second-half the red and black outfit were the better side and took a well-deserved lead through Joe O’Loughlin. The Versatility man was played in on the right-hand-side by Prynn. Taking a touch, the former Frome man calmly slotted the ball under Cribbs keeper Mac Boyd to make it 1-2. However, Cribbs did manage to find an equaliser late on thanks to a header by the impressive McErlain, following a Bailey Croome corner. Larkhall were also in action last Saturday, winning 2-0 against Malvern Town at Plain Ham. The home side opened the scoring in the 8th minute thanks to a goal from winger Eben Mortimer-Taylor, which was the former Frome Town man’s first goal of the season. However, in the 78th minute Mortimer-Taylor doubled his tally for the afternoon and the season, making it 2-0 to the Larks. Late in the game Malvern were awarded a penalty, with the club’s top-scorer Jack Watts standing over the spot-kick. However, despite a confident run up the striker’s penalty was saved low to left by Arthur Nasta, in the Larkhall goal. It was Malvern’s third loss in a week and second 2-0 loss in a row, after Tavi defeated the Hillsiders 2-0 on Wednesday.
The Larks last victory before last Saturday, came on Wednesday 6th March when the Somerset based outfit put five-past promotion chasing Cribbs Fc, at Plain Ham. The side donning all blue, took the lead in the encounter early against the Bristolian side, through a goal from winger Alex Lambert. Cribbs then equalised the game up in Bath, thanks to a goal from exciting striker David Duru. Larkhall then retook the lead in the 31st minute through Archie Ferris before making it 3-1 before half-time thanks to a strike from Matt Bowman. In the second-half a determined run by Harvey Pritchard as well as a cool finish from the midfielder, put the Larks 4-1 up. The team from Bath made it five in injury time, through number nine Max Willams. The strikers fifth of the season rounded up a special night for fans of Larkhall. However, in the previous five games, Larkhall have won two, drew once and lost twice. The Somerset based outfits last lost, before last Saturday came in Devon, where they lost 5-0 to relegation threatened Exmouth Town. Exmouth scored four goals in 13 second-half minutes, which took the game away from the perplexed visitors. Michael Landricombe scored two goals in five minutes to put the Town 2-0 ahead, before versatility man Ace High, also grabbed two goals to put Exmouth in dreamland. Substitute Levi Landricombe added a fifth with five minutes to go to put the finishes touches on Exmouth’s first victory, since the blue and white outfit grabbed three points at Langsford Park back in January.
Larkhall currently sit in 9th place on 36 points with 11 wins, six draws and 10 defeats this season. Tavi currently sit in 13th two points and four places behind Larkhall in the League. Stuart Henderson’s side have won 11, drew four and lost twelve this season. The Red and Black Outfits draw against Cribbs on Saturday was the clubs first away draw of the season. Before Saturday Stuart Henderson’s side had won six and drew seven of their previous 13 away games. Larkhall however have the worst away record this season, joint with Paulton Rovers. The Larks have only picked up two wins away from home, with the clubs last away victory coming back in January against Melksham Town. A victory against Tavi for Larkhall could see the Somerset based outfit move up to as high as sixth place if other results go their way. Tavi with a victory could leapfrog Larkhall into ninth position in the table.
The last match between these two sides came all the way back in August, with Larkhall coming out 3-0 winners on the day thanks to goals from Tom Bradley, Thierry Swaby and Archie Ferris. The 3-0 victory for Larkhall on the day was the clubs first off, the season, in the League. The loss for Tavi was the clubs fourth in four games at the start of the season which included a 3-5 loss to Barnstaple Town in the Fa Cup. The last game at Langsford Park between these two sides, saw Larkhall come out 0-1 winners in front of a crowd of 151 people. Versatility man for Larkhall, Max Willams was the goal scorer for the blue donning visitors on the day. The reverse fixture in the 22/23 season saw Tavi come out 0-1 winners at Plain Ham, thanks to a goal early from defender Ben Cross.
Larkhall Athletic Key Players:
Jack Camm- The versatile midfielder, started his career Bristol Rovers before moving to Weston-Super-Mare in the 2011/12 season. In the 2011/12 season Camm made three appearances for Western-Super-Mare including two appearances in the National League South against Chelmsford City and Dover Athletic. The following season saw Camm move to Cinderford Town, where the midfielder spent three seasons scoring five goals in the process. The next season saw Camm spend time at Yate Town and at Larkhall Athletic, scoring five goals for the latter before moving back to Cinderford. At the start of the 16/17 season at Cinderford, Camm scored once before returning to Yate. At the Bluebells in the second part of the season, Camm scored two goals before once again moving clubs. This time Camm returned to the Larks and play more in a defensive midfielder role. The next season saw Camm make 28 appearances for Larkhall in all competitions. The 31-year-old even feature as a left-back as well as a centre-midfielder in the 19/20 season where he impressed against the likes of AFC Totton, Swindon Supermarine and Didcot Town. The next season saw Camm play 10 times for Larkhall, with saw the utility man score once, in a 2-2 away draw at Bideford. Camm in the following season played an impressive 42 games in all different positions, which included featuring as a right-back, left-back, left-midfielder, right-midfielder and central midfielder. Following four seasons at Larkhall at the start of the 22/23 season Camm moved to Melksham Town, where he was mostly deployed as a left-winger. Whilst at the Oakfield Stadium, Camm 18 appearances, scoring the one goal in a 3-1 win for the Town against Wimborne Town. However, in November of the 22/23 season, Camm returned to Larkhall and played 22 games, mostly featuring as a central midfielder. This season has seen Camm feature as a number eight and as a winger. The 31-year-old has impressed Larkhall fans for many years, due to his energetic play style and graft he puts in on the field. Camm has made 31 appearances this season for Larkhall scoring twice against Malvern and Bath City.
Sam Boulton- The central-defender, who can also play as a right-back, started his career at Yeovil Town but did not make a first team appearance for the Glovers. The strong but also agile defender made his first senior appearances at Frome Town in the 16/17 season. Boulton made three appearances for Frome, twice against his current club and once against Evesham. Boulton then moved to Yate where he spent just under four years. Whilst at Yate, the defender helped the Bluebells win promotion to the Premier Division South as a right-back, but the Englishmen also slotted in at centre-back when he needed to. In the 19/20 season at Yate, Boulton made 28 appearances in all competitions, becoming a crucial centre piece in the Yate backline. The next season due to covid, saw the defender play only twice, once for Yate Town and once for Bristol Manor Farm. The versatile defender’s debut for Manor Farm, came on the 20th of October 2020 against Winchester, which the Bristolian outfit lost 3-2. The next season at Manor Farm, saw Boulton play twenty times, as a number five and a number six. However, the following season saw the defender join the Larks, where he fit in straight away scoring three minutes into his debut against Bishop’s Cleeve. The powerful defender who loves a challenge, made 39 appearances for Larkhall in all competitions. The defender impressed due to his solid performance and his 100 percent attitude which sees the defender put his heart on the line during every performance. This season has been no different, with Boulton making 28 appearances in all competitions in the central of defence. The defender has also played a massive part in how the Larks have a positive goal difference this season, despite not being a high-scoring team. The defender will be hoping to keep Tavi danger man Liam Prynn quiet on Wednesday. That will be one encounter to look out for in the match.
Tavistock AFC Last five results:
Saturday 23rd March- Cribbs FC 2-2 Tavistock AFC
Wednesday 20th March- Tavistock AFC 2-0 Malvern Town
Saturday 9th March- Wimborne Town 3-2 Tavistock AFC
Wednesday 6th March- Tavistock AFC 1-1 Melksham Town
Wednesday 28th February- Tavistock AFC 1-3 Willand Rovers
Larkhall Athletic Last five results:
Saturday 23rd March- Larkhall Athletic 2-0 Malvern Town
Saturday 9th March- Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2-1 Larkhall Athletic
Wednesday 6th March- Larkhall Athletic 5-1 Cribbs FC
Saturday 24th February- Exmouth Town 5-0 Larkhall Athletic
Saturday 17th February- Larkhall Athletic 1-1 Evesham United
Match information:
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults: £10
Concessions (13-17 & over 65): £6
Under 12s accompanied with an adult:
FREE Limited parking is available within the car park at Langsford Park. Cash or card can be used on the turnstiles, tea hut and “The Lambing Shed.
Club Shop: We have a top of the range Club Shop, located near the Lambing Shed which features Hats, Scarves, pin badges, keyrings, and mugs. We also have a wide range of Programmes, some which are over 20 years old.
