TAVISTOCK AFC 5-1 EXMOUTH TOWN: light-hearted match report by THE MOWDOG...

Rikki Shepherds Lambs To Victory Over Exmouth

Tavistock AFC 5-1 Exmouth Town

I finally made it to a game at Tavistock, for the only other time I attended the ground, I arrived at 2.25pm, only to find that the game had begun at 2pm… I had travelled from Solihull to visit my daughter, who lived in the cottages nearby and so we went for coffee instead, before I caught a train home. This time I was staying in Mawgan Porth and drove the 50-plus miles to see Exmouth at Langsford Park, who included ex-Truro right-back Barry McConnell, but I doubt that he recognised me. Warren Daw was in the Tavvy midfield too and I also recognised Lewis Coombes and Dan Evans. After falling behind to a disputed penalty, fine strikes by Rikki Shepherd and the impudent Danny Brook placed Tavvy in command and they went on to fully deserve their emphatic victory. Visiting skipper Karl Rickard was dismissed for the misplaced swing of an elbow late on but the game had long since escaped the visitors, for whom defender Liam Ellis and ‘keeper Rob Powell prevented a more embarrassing defeat. 

Lamb Dan Evans checks the name in his shirt...

I struggled badly to interpret the names on the Tavistock team sheet and as there was no match programme, I can only hope that the names are nearly correct in the report below, especially that of Tavvy’s 11, who might, or might not be Johnson… Sorry, mate.

Powell did well for the guests...

Aerial challenges abounded...

An early Johnson free-kick came to nought for the hosts but then Brook’s quick thought and free-kick sent Coombes racing after the ball, only for visiting goalie Rob Powell to advance and cradle the ball. A couple of Jamie Moore corners for Town were survived by Tavistock and although Shepherd broke once for the Lambs and his pass to Brook was errant, Brook himself lifted a wasteful shot too high and the guests looked to have settled the quicker. A drive by Joe Bushin, similar in build to his skipper and strike partner Karl Rickard, was deflected for a corner by Tavvy but when this was cleared by home central defender Chitty, Aaron Sowden’s left-side cross saw home left-back Josh Robins apparently baulk James Ansell of Town and the referee awarded a penalty, thrusting his arse out like he wanted to be in a Money Supermarket advert. Bushin rifled the spot-kick into the left corner of the net, sending ‘keeper Jack Ord the wrong way. 

0-1: penalty by Bushin...

Pleased chaps from Exmouth...

Chitty, behind the ref, is cautioned...

Chitty was cautioned in the arguments which followed the goal, despite home skipper Evans’ intervention. Powell stretched and did well to catch a well-flighted left-wing centre by Robins, whose tussle with Town’s Nathan Antat was a feature of the game. Following a decent move, Brook had a snap shot blocked by Exmouth but the hosts were soon level with a fine strike by the dangerous Shepherd. Ord’s huge punt forward simply landed on the instep of Shepherd’s right boot, some 25-30 yards from goal, inside-right channel and the ball flew over the stranded, leaping Powell and dipped deep into the net for a stunning equaliser.

1-1 and a fine strike by Shepherd, right...

The sheepish Shepherd has rammed home a great volley for the Lambs...

Coombes did well to get in a shot when crowded but Powell took the ball calmly as it bounced up into his chest, yet it was clear that Tavvy were getting the better of their guests by this time and visiting defender Ellis did remarkably well to block two low shots in succession, from the marauding Coombes then the lurking Brook. All Exmouth offered was a wayward Sowden header from a McConnell centre but soon, the ever more influential Brook fed Coombes, who drove past the left upright, Bushin was booked for arguing about a free-kick he thought Exmouth ought to have been awarded and then Rickard was also cautioned for a challenge on the grinning Evans although the punishment did seem harsh, as Evans probably knew… Half-time was signalled, Tavvy had fought back to be the more dominant force and soon after the interval they really underlined their intentions.

"Suppose you're gonna send me off, later?"
"Yep..."

Coombes was released at inside-left, I think by Brook, who was at the heart of most of the Lambs’ creative offense, making it tough for opponents to shake his solid frame off the ball, but Powell dropped quickly to save well as the taller of the two Tavvy forwards poked an instinctive shot goalwards. After Ord fell to collect a free-kick by Moore for the visitors, Powell did really well to save at Coombes’ feet as the striker threatened, veering right onto a neat Shepherd pass, shepherded through the Town defence. Then Brook bulldozed past defenders into the left side of the Exmouth penalty-box and at 15 yards scooped the ball almost nonchalantly over Powell’s desperate dive with a chip of marvellous exactitude. Fine goal.

Dan has cheekily chipped the 'keeper...

2-1 now...

A long Moore shot, deflected, was about to be controlled by Ord’s boot but the ball bobbled and he must have felt awful as it skittered off his foot for the corner he was attempting to prevent. He didn’t laugh though, although some people did. Not me, Jack… Brook booted the ball away after the referee had awarded the guests a free-kick and yet there were lots of balls about… Ridiculous to caution a player for that offence these days, with a multi-ball game being played. Chitty was adjudged offside as he nodded a Brook free-kick past the right post before Coombes latched onto another long boot forward by a colleague and only a superb challenge by Ellis prevented a shot on target. Matt Dawson replaced Antat for the visitors, before Powell caught a long drive by the excellent home right-back Cross and soon Shepherd did so well to race onto a Brook pass but then fired over the crossbar from a promising position, possibly as a result of a bobbling ball to be fair. Jack Crago replaced Daw, who had been quietly busy in midfield for the hosts but Shepherd threatened again when Coombes fed Brook on the right and Cross was involved, for Shepherd to shove the ball low across the goal, which took a deflection and prevented Crago from netting.  

Tricky Brook worries McConnell...

Shepherd wasn't pleased about this miss...

A Brook free-kick was cleared by Town’s Mark Saunders for a throw on the right and from this the hosts increased their lead. Chitty nodded the ball on, Saunders’ clearing header was chested down by Chitty and from 17 yards he drove a low left-booter into the left corner of the net, a fine finish from the central defender.

Chitty for 3-1...

...celebrations...

Neat approach work by Coombes and Shepherd allowed the industrious Dan Frohlick to fire a low 20 yarder, which was well claimed falling right by Powell before Coombes received a low delivery across the penalty-box from Crago on the left and as the ‘keeper advanced, the tall forward simply fooled Powell and almost caressed the ball over the goal-line for a 4-1 lead. Coombes and Shepherd took rests and were replaced by Graham Galway and Bloor (?) then hard-working Town-man Sowden sliced the ball skyward to himself, oddly, but was denied a final shot by Chitty’s challenge. Following a left-wing throw Crago fastened onto the ball in the 18 yard box, veered right and shot low past the luckless Powell to complete the scoring.

Coombes: 4-1...

Dangerous trio...

"Shall we have a rest, Rikki?"

"I'll talk you through my tap-in, if you say nothin' about your volley..."

Ellis and Brook leap...

Crago: 5-1...

Brook congratulates Crago...

Rickard is dismissed...

It remained only for Rickard to chuck out an elbow to earn his dismissal and for Chitty to pass sideways from a free-kick to Brook, the ball ricocheted for a left-wing corner and the game ended in abject defeat for the guests. The Scottish home coach seemed pleased that I’d videoed the goals and the manager chatted to me after the game, hoping that his team might challenge the top six in the division, which wouldn’t surprise me for the central defenders were strong, the full-backs very good indeed and with Johnson and Shepherd dangerous on the flanks, Coombes will always cash in on Brook’s play. The experienced, powerful striker liked to flick the ball audaciously but he truly impressed with his skills on occasions. And what a goal!

Brook swivels the hips.
No change there...

Exmouth were disappointing, despite the efforts of Saunders, Ellis and Powell, although Sowden was always prominent on a tough day for the visiting forwards. The Lambs silenced their guests and I drove back to Mawgan Porth with food on my mind… 

Camelford on Tuesday, hopefully…

It’s what I do…

TEAMS:

TAVISTOCK AFC:

Ord, Cross, Robins, Evans (Capt), Chitty, Frohlick, Shepherd, Daw, Coombes, Brook, Johnson.

SUBS:

Galway, Bloor, Fyneboy, Crago.

EXMOUTH TOWN:

Rob Powell, Barry McConnell, Tyler Dobinson, Liam Ellis, Mark Saunders, Jamie Moore, Nathan Antat, James Ansell, Karl Rickard (Capt), Joe Bushin, Aaron Sowden.

SUBS:

Matt Dawson, Dan Boere, Alex Greening, Hedley Steele.