KJM SPORT MATCH REPORT Exmouth Town 1 Tavistock 0

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Created on Wednesday, 20 April 2022 22:05

Last Updated on Friday, 22 April 2022 11:16

Published on Wednesday, 20 April 2022 22:05

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at Southern Road

And so to the final Saturday of the Western League season where the destiny of the league title is still to be decided.

After Wednesday’s match at a packed Southern Road, Tavistock and Exmouth are locked on 76 points and the only thing which puts Tavistock on top of the table is a superior goal difference of plus one.

It sets up what should be a very nervy last day where Tavistock are at home to Ashton & Backwell United while Exmouth travel to Shepton Mallet. Both 3pm kick-offs.

On the face of it, Stuart Henderson’s Lambs have the easier task against a United side who are languishing second from bottom of the table, especially with top 40-plus goal scorer Liam Prynn back from holiday.

But dig a little deeper and you will find United have recorded some excellent results away from home lately, including a 4-0 win at Millbrook and a 2-2 draw at Mousehole last weekend after being 2-0 up with five minutes to go.

The thought of those results is enough to have Tavistock on their guard, if they were not already.

For Exmouth, there’s no doubt that a trip to sixth-placed Shepton Mallet looks trickier. They are a very good side and Exmouth regard them as one of their bogey teams. It all adds to the mix of a tasty recipe.

Kevin Hill’s side go to Mallet buoyed by the fact that they won a must-win fixture against Tavistock.

Going into the penultimate match of the season, Exmouth were three points and three goals inferior, and a win for Tavistock would have crowned them champions. A draw would have kept things alive, although Tavistock would have been hot favourites.

But a win . . .

They got it thanks to an unlikely direct free kick from in-form Levi Landricombe four minutes into the second half. The free kick was given almost on the touchline on the right wing about 20 yards from the dugouts.

The home side packed the penalty area hoping for somebody to get a vital touch – but it wasn’t needed. Landricombe’s left foot inswinger eluded everybody and ended up in the far corner of the net with keeper Josh Oak unsighted.

Most of the crowd of 728 roared almost as if they had won the league but their delight was understandable.

So, with 40 minutes left, would Exmouth go all out for a second goal which would lift them above Tavistock on goal difference?

Or stay solid and try to make sure of the 1-0 which would put them neck and neck with their rivals?

They chose the second option and defended brilliantly when Tavistock piled on the pressure looking for an equaliser, which almost came from a superb Jordan Annear header in the 55th minute which hit the post with keeper Robbie Powell beaten.

Only when the game moved into time added on did Exmouth properly commit themselves to trying to nick a second goal and keeper Oak was forced to make two fine saves to deny them.

It wasn’t a great football match. There was too much at stake for that on a playing surface which didn’t encourage passing of any sort, even back to the goalkeepers! Tavistock tried it once and just as Oak was about to kick the ball, it hit a bump and the keeper sliced the ball badly.

But it was a great non-league football occasion under the lights on an increasingly chilly evening.

And it sets up a final day scenario that the Western League could have only dreamt about.

Footnote: mathematically, Mousehole could still win the title. They are only three points behind the top two. However, they would need to win heavily at Keynsham and hope Tavistock and Exmouth suffer very heavy defeats.

How Jake Ash and his players must be kicking themselves for dropping costly points in recent games.

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