SOUTHERN 1 SOUTH Tavistock AFC 2 Mousehole AFC 2
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 12:26
- Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 16:45
- Published on Tuesday, 29 August 2023 12:26
- Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at Langsford Park
Two clubs who have come a long way in a relatively short time served up a bank holiday treat for the crowd of 304 at Langsford Park.This pulsating Devon versus Cornwall derby produced four goals, the last of which was a Tavistock equaliser in the seventh minute of 10 minutes of time added on.
Substitute Dan Koita chased a long clearance, using his considerable pace to get away from a defender along the left wing, before progressing into the penalty area and sending an unstoppable shot past Mousehole keeper Oli Chenoweth.
The home supporters were in raptures while the visitors felt immediate deflation after coming so close to bagging all three points.
Tavistock had made the perfect start with Alex Battle firing them into a fifth minute lead but a Hayden Turner penalty after 27 minutes levelled things up and the former Newquay striker put Mousehole ahead just before the break after a great run by skipper Jack Calver.
Callam Mconie, another Newquay product, came desperately close to making it 3-1 in first half added time and that proved to be a crucial moment in the game.
Mousehole dominated possession in the second half, playing a pleasing on the eye version of the beautiful game, but their inability to get a killer third goal left a nagging feeling that they might pay the price.
Chenoweth had to make a fine save to deny Ed Harrison a 65th minute equaliser and as the home side increased the late pressure, the Mousehole keeper produced more heroics in the 84th minute to tip a Harrison rocket around the post for a corner.
Five minutes into time added on Tavistock must have thought their chance of equalising were gone when Taylor Scarff, up for a corner, left unmarked six yards out, headed down which allowed Chenoweth time to gather the ball on the bounce.
As it turned out the home side had to wait only two more minutes for their reward with Koita’s finish worthy of rescuing a point.
It was a proper football contest between two teams who are not looking out of place in the Southern League.
You don’t have to go that far back to find Tavistock in the South West Peninsula League and Mousehole battling to get out of the Cornwall Combination.
Their paths had never met until the 2021-22 season when Tavistock did the double over their Cornish rivals (3-0 at home, 2-1 away) when both were in the Western League.
The progress of two very ambitious clubs has been phenomenal and illustrates what can be achieved if you have the desire, and the financial clout, to step up through the non-league football pyramid.
A visit to Langsford Park is now a treat. Success on the field has been matched by improvements off the field and the venue does not look out of place at a higher level of football.
Tavistock: A Dearing, B Fowles, A McPherson, I Harris, T Scarff, C Elkington, T Burns (D Koita 70), E Harrison, L Prynn (O Pritchard 90+), A Battle, S Piper (G Newton 90).
Subs: B Cross, J Bowker.
Goals: A Battle (7), D Koita (90+7).
Yellow cards: B Fowles (36), T Burns (45+7), L Prynn (59), A McPherson (86), S Piper (90).
Mousehole: O Chenoweth, B Pursall, A Elcock, M Lewis, J Otto, M Hill, H Turner, J Calver (T Nixon 73), T Mitchell (J Bissett 74), C Mconie (J Symons 74), P Sousa.
Subs: K Fraser, L Moyle (gk).
Goals: H Turner (27 pen, 43).
Yellow cards: A Elcock (33), P Sousa (40).
Referee: A Glanville.
Attendance: 304.
SWSN Stars Tavistock - Ed Harrison; Mousehole - Jack Calver.
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