KJM SPORT MATCH REPORT Tavistock 1 Ashton & Backwell 0

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Created on Sunday, 24 April 2022 06:46

Last Updated on Monday, 25 April 2022 06:52

Published on Sunday, 24 April 2022 06:46

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at Langsford Park

Liam Prynn’s been on holiday. I know. I can hear former players and managers saying ‘that would have never happened during a season in my day’.

But the world around us has changed and even people like me and you, who love our football, have to accept that the youngsters of today might just be getting their priorities right by taking a break from the madness when they can.

 
Anyway, a refreshed Prynn was back on Saturday and wouldn’t you know it, he was the one who stepped up to score the 93rd minute penalty which clinched the Western League title for a deserving Tavistock.

It was a big moment – up the road in Somerset, challengers Exmouth Town were still drawing 0-0 at Shepton Mallet and needed to do better than Tavistock’s result to pip them to the title.

But you just knew Prynn wouldn’t miss from the spot. He’s a natural goal scorer and his 36th league goal of this fantastic season rounded it all off for Stuart Henderson’s team.

On the morning of the match, Henderson asked me not to tweet in the afternoon because he didn’t want Exmouth to know how they were going on, yet there he was at the end of the game on the end of his phone talking to somebody who was at Shepton Mallet keeping him right up to date with everything Exmouth were doing.

And he was the one who confirmed that Tavistock were indeed champions, by two points, as he set off on a David Pleat type of celebration run (Google it, kids) from the dugout to the centre circle where he joined his joyful players.

It all set off a night of celebrations at Langsford Park - Tavistock are worthy champions, they were top for the last five months of the season and held off strong challenges from Kevin Hill's exciting Exmouth and Jake Ash's Mousehole.

The Lambs will play their football in the Southern League next season and the way the club is set up, they are ready for it.

Saturday’s match? The first half was a non-event, after an early chance for Ed Harrison to ease the home supporters’ nerves went begging.

The second half became increasingly frenetic as the finishing line came into sight. Tavistock created and missed a handful of great chances but they couldn’t get that goal.

There was also the fact that Ashton & Backwell, although second from bottom, arrived in Devon boasting an unbeaten run of four games which included a 2-2 draw at Mousehole last week. The integrity of the league was upheld by their performance.

And they did possess a goal threat. Conor Hartley was a real handful on the left side of the attack, some of his movement was mesmerising, and at any given moment he could have set the cat among the pigeons by scoring.

I actually heard screams as a shot flew across the six yard box in the last minute of normal time. Fortunately for the home fans, the ball drifted inches wide and sighs of relief could be sensed around the ground.

But all good dramas must have a big finish and it came in the form of a penalty after referee Matt Redmond judged Warren Daw to have been pushed to the floor as he went for a header.

He was surrounded by protesting Ashton players because it wasn’t the ‘stonewall’ penalty Henderson later described it as.

But it was a penalty and Prynn scored it. End of story, end of season. Congratulations Tavistock AFC.

Now get on your holidays. Not you Liam!

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