Match Report: Bashley FC vs Tavistock AFC

Tavi keep clean-sheet and take point in final Away Game off the season!!

By Luca Sperti

The Lambs came into the game on the back off three defeats, despite some positive’s performances at Malvern Town and Mousehole. Manager Stuart Henderson made one change in the starting eleven from Tuesday’s defeat at Mousehole, with Jacob Bowker returning and replacing young Adam MacPherson. The Red and Black outfit started the game off stronger and had the first chance off the game in only the 3rd minute. Captain Ed Harrison did well to win the ball back in midfield before making his way into the Bashley half before spraying the ball out to Jack Endacott. The left-wing back took a touch before making his way into the box and smashing a powerful left-footed shot towards goal. Bashley goalkeeper Ross Casey, did well to get a strong-hand on the ball before club-captain Brad Morris did well to clear the ball away from danger. In the 11th minute another chance for Tavi, saw Liam Prynn play the ball through to Harrison in the right-corner off the box. The captain took a touch before smashing a shot from a tight angle towards goal. However, Casey in the Bashley goal did excellent to come out and block the Tavi Captain’s shot with his body. In the 18th minute Tavi should have scored. A through ball from midfield found it’s way to Prynn, who was one-on-one with Casey. Once again, the goalkeeper stood his ground and stop and shot which looked to be heading in. However, the ball fell back to Prynn near the right by-line who sent in a cross which was punched by Casey right into the path off winger Alfie Cunnigham. The Welshman looked to have one off the easiest tap-ins,but the ball went under the Exeter loanee’s feet. The youngster did well to get control off the second ball and cut inside but his eventual shot from close-range was smashed high over Casey’s goal. In the 21st minute the Lambs were still in complete control especially down the left-side. This was shown as Tallan Burns played the ball to the impressive Endacott, who did well to whip a cross into the box which was cleared by Bashley centre-back Sam Steel.

In the 22nd minute a counterattack from the resulting corner was halted after Ben Fowles tactically brought down Bashley winger Jamie Johnston. In the 24th minute another chance for Tavi, saw the impressive Cunnigham send Bashley right-back Jamie Webber inside and out before making his way to the left by-line and shooting from a tight angle. The Welshman shot was hit low and deflected off Casey and looked to be heading in before it was cleared off the line by British Virgin Islands international Josh Bertie. In the 31st minute the first yellow card off the afternoon was handed out to Ben Fowles, after the former Saltash loanee brought down Conor Whiteley in the Bashley half. Three minutes later the aforementioned Fowles did well to find Cunnigham who took a touch just outside the box before smashing a shot wide off Casey’s goal. In the 35th minute Sam Steel went down for Bashley and had to receive treatment, however a minute later the defender returned to the action after walking off his niggle. In the 41st minute, Jacob Bowker was carded for Tavi, for a trip on Max Wilcock near the edge of the Tavi penalty area. A minute later, the resulting freekick by Luke Delaney was smashed high and wide off the Tavi far-post. In the 45th minute the tricky Cunnigham sent Steel inside and out before winning a corner off the commanding centre-half. Very little happen after, with both teams moving into the break without finding the back of the net. But many Tavi players and fans were wondering how they didn’t find the net it that first-half.

The first action of the second half saw Tavi centre-back Ben Cross booked for preventing a counterattack near the centre-circle. In the 54th minute a double change for the Bash saw, Charlie Wooding and Eddie Hodge replace Tony Rolls and midfielder Conor Whiteley. In the 60th minute Josh Bertie sent in a couple off dangerous crosses before the ball fell back to the former Winchester man. The left-back did well to go past a few Tavi players but his long-range shot was smashed high and wide off Aaron Dearing’s goal. In the 67th minute, Tavi made their first sub off the afternoon with Jacob Bowker replaced by Exeter loanee Scott Simmons. A minute later, a chance for Bashley saw Webber send in a cross from the right to Hodge who let fly from inside the box, but the midfielders shot was saved by the feet off Dearing. Two minutes later a chance for Tavi saw Cunnigham do well again sending Webber inside and out before sending in a cross which is missed by Prynn and cleared by Wooding, after a touch from Fowles. In the 72nd minute a through ball from Bruns found Prynn who had Simmons up with him. The former Torquay man found Simmons, but the Exeter loanee was soon flagged for being in an offside position.

In the 74th minute, a chance for Bashley saw Hodge pass the ball out to Johnston, who cut inside from the left before sending in a low shot straight into the hands-off Dearing in the Tavi goal. In the 78th minute a big-chance for Bashley and the biggest off the second-half, saw right-winger Delaney find Wilcock in the box. The forward with Tavi players all around him, headered the ball high over Dearing’s goal. The striker couldn’t have asked for a better chance, and it was one which I’m sure he would have liked to have back. In the 82nd minute a chance for Tavi, saw Cunnigham find Prynn who drove into the box from the left before smashing a shot just over the bar. In the 85th minute a chance for Bashley saw the impressive substitute Hodge take on Harris near the by-line before smashing a shot into the side netting. Three minutes later Bashley made their final sub off the afternoon, with Sean Wright replacing former Wimborne man Sean Wright. In the first minute off 10 added, Tallan Burns was booked for stopping a Bashley counter-attack. Only a minute later another chance for the Devonshire visitors, saw a throwing by Harris find Prynn in the box who laid the ball down to Endacott. The Plymouth Argyle loanee, now at striker, hit the ball low towards the corner which was saved by Casey. In the 5th minute off added time a chance for Tavi, saw a Ben Cross speculative effort, just whistle past Casey’s far-post. In the ninth minute off added time a big chance for Bashley, saw Bertie make an underlap and be found by Delaney. The fullback took a touch before trying to chip Dearing, but the former Dorchester man chip just sailed over Dearing’s net. Only a minute later, the Referee blew for the final time off the afternoon with both sides shading periods off the game but not being able to find the back off the net. The draw sees both teams move up the table with Tavi moving to 12th from 13th and Bashley moving to 13th after Bemerton Heath lost at home to Mousehole. Bashley now turn their attention to their final game off the season, on the final day, against Westbury, whereas Tavi turn their attention to mid-week action. The Lambs are in action twice at Langsford Park in mid-week , as they take on Wimborne on Tuesday and Bristol Manor Farm on Thursday.

Lineups:

Bashley FC: Casey, Webber, Steel, Rolls (Wooding 54), Bertie, Morris, Ross, Delaney, Whiteley (Hodge), Johnston (Wright 88), Wilcock

Tavistock AFC: Dearing, Cross, Endacott, Elkington, Burns, Harrison, Prynn, Fowles Bowker (Simmons 65), Cunnigham, Harris