TAVISTOCK THISTLES F.C.
Founded in 1983

17 September 2006     
YMCA Kitto 5 v 0 Tavistock Thistles             

 The future may be Orange but the day belonged to Brown of Thisltes who despite being one of the smallest players on the pitch won more headers and tackles than any other player from either team, if the rest of the team could show the same enthusism things would improve for Thistles who for the second week in a row looked like they had been out all night and not been to bed. Allum in the Thistles goal was kept busy again and pulled of another fine string of saves but was unable to do anything about the only goal of the first half.
After half time Thistles did string some moves together but kitto took full advantage of a lack luster Thistles midfield to run in another 4 goals and come out 5 - 0  victors. Scanlan,Cooper, Blagdon and Kirby had good solid games in defence but had as much chance of kerbing the constant flood of attacks from Kitto as the levy's did in New Orleans last year. Tuggle did well on the left as did Dyer playing up front but better performances are going to be required if the season is to improve. Thistle did come close to pinching a couple of late consalation goals but it was not to be and it back to the drawing board for the coaching staff.                    

                                             Sunday October 1 2006                                             
Thistles put a good fight
Thistles were without there goalkeeper for this game due to a dangerous challenge last week when playing a "friendly" against Tavistock AFC  which left him spending Sunday afternoon in hospital after an ambulance had to be called, but stand in keep and Man of the Match Micheal Blagdon had great game making some fine saves. Thistles put a good fight against a bigger and stronger Southway side at Knowle Battery this Sunday only to go behind after 35 minutes from a well struck shot from just inside the box giving the keeper no chance. Shortly before half time from a corner they then went further behind after some slack marking by Thistles but a 2 goal deficit at half time was not really justified as Thistles had fought hard against the league leaders and would have deserved to go in level at the break. After the break Thistles continued there good work but paid the price for missed chances and a lack of goals and Southway got a third after a corner was deflected in by a Thistles defender. With Thistles running out of steam there opponents ran in a further 3 to give a false look to the final result . There were good performances again from Micheal Brown in midfield with Alan Kirby and with Adam Scanlon having a steady game at the heart of the defense  cutting out numerous chances. The game was much improved on the previous league games and the elusive win will come if they continue to apply themselves as they did this week.

   Sunday October 15 2006   
Poor display 
Saltash Youth 7 v 0 Tavistock Thistles
 
Once again it took a while for the opposition to break Thistles down but the inevitable happened and half way through the first half Thistles goal keeper and man of the match again Rob Allum was left exposed for Saltash to pop in the first goal. Things did improve a bit but right on the stroke of half time they conceded a second due to slack marking and not being able to defend at corners with barely enough time left to restart the match this was a death nail to everyone not least the managers and supporters.
 
Despite trying to rally the troops the second half became a bit of a rout with the Thistles goal keeper having more shots at him than a duck in the goosy fair shooting booth and unfortunately another 5 goals where conceded, Thistles will have to start shaping up and improving or matters will only get worse. A couple of players who gave there all were midfielder and captain Michael Brown, Dan Lee, Alex Tuggle and defender Andrew Cooper perhaps now Goosy Fair is over they may be better prepared for next weeks game against Plymouth Trophyman
Sunday October 19 2006
Another blow to Allum
Tavistock Thistles 0 v 6 Plymouth Trophyman
 
Tavistocks keeper once again had to be carried from the pitch after making a valiant effort to keep out another goal but collided with the far post injuring his knee in the process. This was after the visitors had scored one of the softest goals they will get this season from a corner to take the lead. Thistles once again were over run and failed to keep hold of the ball for long enough to give there beleaguered defence a break from the action and after replacement keeper and man of the match Ashley Martin pulled of some fine saves which kept the score down to 3 - 0 at half time. During an extended interval break in which the law was laid down by the managers things did improve and the visitors chances where limited but they still managed to add a further 3 goals. Other notable performance were made by Adam Scanlan and Chris Giles in defence and Mike Brown and Alan Kirby in midfield but alas to no avail. the next game for Thistles is away to Hooe Rovers on bonfire night so lets hope for some fireworks next week from Thistles

Sunday Novemebr 5 2006
READ ON
Hooe Rovers 10 v 0 Tavistock Thistles

Despite suffering there largest defeat for nearly 2 years, overall this irronically was probably there best performance of the season with several attempts on goal and some good play in midfield and up front with Alan Kirby putting in an absolutely magnificant captains performance in midfield. The game started well enough with both teams having chances but after 20 minutes Thistles gifted there mediocure apponents a goal which was quickly followed by a second. But thisrles continued to push forward and had further opertunitys of there own only to concede a further goal just before half time.

After the break Thistles stand in keeper became unable to continue in goal due to a knock to his elbow he had sustained in the first half meaning they had to find another player to play in goal who did as well as he could but was not able to stop the score from taking on a totalally disorteted appearance despite all the efforts of the rest of the team. We now have a home game to look forward to next week against Chaddlewood Miners

Sunday 12 Novemeber 2006
THINGS LOOKING UP
Tavistock Thistles 0 v 3 Chaddlewood Miners
 
Once again the lack of goals proved costly but unlike previous matches chances did occur and Thistles should have taken the lead in the first 5 minute but with only the keeper to beat the ball was put wide of the far post. A large, fast moving Chaddlewood side proved a handful for the Thistles defence with balls continually being fed out wide and crossed into the box but with there Keeper back this week there attacks came to nothing until the 15th minute when a corner proved there undoing as the ball was slotted in for Thistles to go one down. The over active arm of the linesman denied Thistles several chances therefore being thwarted by dubious offside decisions. Then with around 5 minutes of the first half to go The Chaddlewood attack was given to much room and they fired in a second.
 
Unlike previous weeks Thistles did not crumble and took the game at times to Chaddlewood showing signs of improvement which all bodes well for the future. It took the visitors until 10 minutes from time to put the last nail in the coffin of Thistles valiant efforts by scoring a soft goal from a corner while the defence looked on. The returning keeper Rob Allum was again awarded the MOM award by the visitors even though for him it was a quite afternoon and no visits to Derriford. Once again Skipper Alan Kirby gave his all in midfield with Chris Giles and Adam Scanlon having good games at the centre of the defence.  Next week Thistles travel to play YMCA Kitto in the Devon Cup. Hopefully on today's performance who knows we may get a good result
Sunday 19 Novemeber 2006
Devon Cup U18's
YMCA Kitto 8 v 1 Tavistock Thistles
 
No, its not a printing mistake thistles scored! However even the best political spin doctor would have job putting a shine on this performance but Thistles (unlike AFC) will not blame anyone but themselves. The only good thing to come out of the first half against and average Kitto team was "THE" goal scored by returning striker Tom Rogers which was the first in a competitive match this season which is one less monkey on there back but a win still seems a long way off. The usual life saver Rob Allum in goal was unable to reach the high standards he has set himself this season whilst keeping the score down to a respectable level is now thinking of taking up trawler fishing as he spending so much time in the nets. Having said that
the first Kitto goal was a superbly struck volley from outside the box which would have left any keeper struggling to get a hand on it however with proper marking it may never have happened in the first place but the Kitto striker had more space than a alligator in a swimming pool on a hot sunny day. Thistles lost influential captain Alan Kirby with a stomach strain mid way through the first half which did not help matters much and then Kitto then went on a goal spree and must have thought xmas had come early with the Thistles defensive play being weaker than a milky cup of tea and holding the doors open to let Kitto in time after time and may as well have had a sign up saying score one get one free which Kitto did time after time to fire in another four which was when Rogers struck pouncing on a through ball he somehow managed to get the ball up and over the keeper from outside the box and with everyone holding there breath the ball then bounced into the roof of the net which prompted untold jubilation amongst the easily pleased and long suffering supporters (4 parents and a dog) as well the players. This brief encounter with success was so short lived it has been auctioned on the internet already and as Kitto stunned by there new found infamous acclaim of being the first to concede a goal by Thistles this season came back and scored a sixth before the break. The second half was as bad as the first with the exception of the goals conceded being regulated to two, one of which was an own goal and the second came as a result of a fluffed kick by the Thistles keeper who was duly lobbed from outside the box and was unable to get back in time to stop the ball hitting the back of the net. Thistles now really need to start playing consistent football after last week onlookers thought that they had seen the light and turned the corner but unfortunately someone pulled the plug out and the corner they turned was a dead end one way street. But everyone connected with the club is committed to turning things around but it is a bit like getting the QE2 to make a U turn the lads however are up beat and looking forward to next weeks game against Callington Colts "moles permitting"

Sunday December 3 2006
BAD START
AFC Plympton 4 v 0 Tavistock Thistles fc

Tavistock started slowly again and were punished early on by a goal from the edge of the box. It took a bit longer for the second to be conceded with Thistles not so much as sleep as out for the count and not even prince charming would have woken them up.  There was no shape or purpose in there play and it was a constant onslaught at the doors of the thistles defence which would have made Troy seem like a picnic Plymton did not even need a wooden horse to sneak throught the Thistles defences as they were made all too welcome around the Thistles penalty area but due to some good work from Adam Scanlon and the more alert Thistles keeper Rob Allum the score was kept at two until just before the break when the Thistles full back would have been more suited in a tutu than football shorts allowed a cross which eventually ended up in the back of the net to make it 3 - 0 at half time. During the break the riot act was read out and did have some affect as Thistles could have scored 3 goals themselves with a deft header from Dan Lee from a corner by Chris Giles. Tom Rogers had  couple of chances blocked on the line and Dean Dyer also had a shot from rebound blocked on its way to the back of the net. All the players put in a huge effort in the second half but the damage was already done a bit of  luck would not go amiss. Thistles were caught out near the end to put a worse look on the eventual scoreline than the second half deserved.

Next week Thistles look forward to meeting there old foes YMCA Kitto at Mary Tavy a bit of support would not be unwelcomed if you have nothing else to do on Sunday at 2pm

 Sunday 10 December 2006
AT LAST A POINT
Tavistock Thistles 3 v 3 YMCA Kitto

Thistles were more than unlucky not to have won this game and would have thoroughly deserved all three points but someone up there was not on our side today. Playing a kitto team that had already beaten them 5 nil and 8 v 1 this season Thistles could have been excused for not really expecting a  lot from this game but due to a fantastic team display on a wet and wild afternoon at Mary Tavy they fought and battled for every ball and thoroughly deserved there point.Before the game kicked off Kitto had asked the ref to stop the game once they had scored 10 if ever was there misplaced optimism that was it and a less than gracious Kitto were cut down to size by the battling Thistles. It did not go as planned from the start with Kitto playing down the hill and with the wind behind them they bombarded the Thistles Goal forcing numerous saves from the ever steady Rob Allum in goal, but with around 15 minutes gone Thistles Achilles heel raised its head when they conceded a soft goal from a corner swung in from the
left which was scrambled into the net to give Kitto the lead, Thistles did not sit back but took the game to Kitto  and were unlucky not to score from a corner of there own when Lee struck the ball goal ward only for it to be scrabbles away.Despite several other attempts in the first half the score remained the same.During the interval a new food supplement of Jaffa cakes which apparently are used by pro teams to give an energy boost certainly seemed to do the trick and Thistles endless energy levels throughout the second half certainly helped them achieve there goals and take the biscuit. With the second half barely started Thistles were awarded a free kick some 30 yards out which was thundered into the top right hand corner of the net by Anthony Coles to level the scores. Thistles then went to sleep and were caught on the break for Kitto to go back into the lead but unlike previous weeks Thistles battled back and forced yet another corner on the left taken Chris Giles who had tortured the Kitto goal with his previous corners found Dean Dyer free to rifle the ball home from close range to level the scores again.  Ten minutes later Thistles were again awarded a free kick this time around 35 yards out and it was sweetly struck into the same corner to give them a 3 v 2 lead This prompted numerous car horns to be sounded in jubilation unheard since the millennium celebrations and despite far from hanging on they pushed for more goals and they should have wrapped up a victory when Cole was one on one with goals and they should have wrapped up a victory when Cole was one on one with the Keeper but did not manage to put wide enough of the keeper who pushed it out for a corner but with only minutes remaining Kitto some how managed to loft a ball straight through the Thistles defence and get a head onto it which caught out the thistles keeper. At the end of the match everyone had mixed emotions knowing they had let a victory slip but at the same time knowing they had produced a magnificent display to get the draw. Adam Scanlon and fit again Captain Alan Kirby were outstanding in defence but with such a great team performance it was really difficult to pick a man of the match  and with the other Tavistock side not doing to well it was left to Thistles to fly the flag for the boys U18 football for a change. With champions elect Southway waiting next week it will  not be easy but a little bit more confidence will go a long way and will guarantee a trip to the biscuit isle at the local shop for the half time refreshments again
Sunday 17 December 2006
Great battling performance
Tavistock Thistles 1 v 5 AFC Southway
 
Thistles recent improvement continued despite the scoreline Thistles competed all over the pitch and matched the team that will win the league in effort and ability. Knowing the game was going to be hard and physical Thistles set out with a 5 man midfield to close down the space and to pressurise there opponents on the ball which was working well throughout the first half, but Southway still managed to worm in two goals one after about 15 minutes which somehow found its way through a crowed area into the net with the second being conceded just before the break from a corner which Thistles tried to clear but the man on the post smashed the ball onto the underside of the crossbar which then bounced down and into the net to give a totally distorted scoreline at the break,  Thistles had several good chances of there own and came extremely close with a free kick from Anthony Cole striking the corner of the post and cross bar with the scoreline at 1 - 0
 
In the second half Thistles continued to give as good as they got with man of the match Michael Brown battling for every ball in midfield despite getting a battering from the opponents who had obviously targeted the 5ft 4 in midfielder for some special treatment but he remained undaunted and kept going back for more and after Southway had extended there lead to 4 he struck a sweet free kick into the bottom left hand corner of the net to give Thistles something for there efforts but as they pushed forward they were caught on the break and conceded the last goal to give the game its totally distorted scoreline. Chris Giles and Adam Roberts also in midfield both worked tirelessly, Adam Scanlon and Alan Kirby where outstanding in defence along with new boy Matthew Roberts at left back and Ryan Greep who got a deserved start at right back. Thistle next game is on the 7th of January away to fellow strugglers St Cleer who Thistles will be hoping to turn over and get a deserved and long over due victory

Sunday 28 January 2007
Another Battling performance with no reward
Tavistock Thistles 0 v 1 Hooe Rovers

If all it took to win a game was effort and commitment thenThistles would be top of the league but unfortunately there are other thing that are required and despite only loosing to the odd goal to a team that smacked 10 past them earlier in the season it was an opertunity missed to record there first win of the season.

Things were pretty even in the first half with both teams having chances but it was mainly down to thistles keeper Robert Allum that the scorel remained even at the break

At the start of the second half Thistles did create some more chances and should have taken the lead after Dan Lee broke through beating several players and with only the goalkeper to beat put the ball wide of the post. In the 75 minute Hooe were awarded a corner which was floated into the box andheaded in with little or no challenge from the Thistles defence. After this Thistles did rally and pressed forward as much as they could but to no avail. Apart from keeper Allum, Lee and Brown also put in outstanding performances.

Sunday 4 February 2007 - Friendly
Tavistock Thistles 0 v 6 ElburtonVilla

The usual problems reared there head today with Thistles not having any outlet and not hanging onto the ball long enough to give there beligured defence any sort of break. However Elburton although not at full strength were made to work extremly hard to break down the Thistles defence and it was a long range effort which gave Rob Allum no chance in the Thistles goal that did the damage. The second was a fluke own goal after a mix up in the penalty area and that was how it stayed until half time.

In the second half it was more of the same and Elburton added a couple more more before the Thisltes goal keeper had to go off after hurting his hand saving another long range shot.

Adam Scanlon, Mike Blagdon (playing with a broken finger) and Alan kirby had good games trying to hold back the tide as did the Thistles keeper. Elburton are a very good side and this performance shows that Thistles can compete with the best teams around but do need to get more control of the ball when they clear there lines

Sunday 11 February 2007
Tavistock Thistles 3 v 2 St Cleer
WE WON
It has taken 2 1/2 years for this group of players to record a victory not since they played together at the U15 level have they achieved this so it was long over due. They also now have given themselves a chance to not finish bottom for the first time ever but there is still a lot of work to do before that becomes a reality, but with the teams sponsors The Plymouth Chiropractic Clinic handing over a large cheque and staying on to watch the game it was a good time record there first Victory of the season

With this being the only game played this Sunday due a good draining pitch and some hard work by the coaches Thistles took the game to St Cleer and had pretty much all the chances in the first half. Simon Kelly wasted several chances in the first half by not hitting the target from close in free kicks and the Thistles midfield not really getting to grips with things. Then after around 20 minutes Allum in the Thistles goal did not come out for a ball being chased down by the St Cleer forward and he unceremoniously brought him down in the area and was lucky not to get sent off, St Cleer then took the lead from the resulting penalty. Thistles although having most of the play still were not able to put a foot on the ball and really gain control of the game and the first half ended with Thistles a goal down.

During the break a few words were said to gee up the Thistle players who looked like they had only just got out bed and in fact the quickest they moved all afternoon was to get the half time refreshments in the changing rooms. Thistles changed there formation to 3 - 5 - 2 in the second half which bore almost instant results with Simon Kelly finally finding his shooting boots and lashing a great shot into the net from just outside the box to equal up the scoreline. Thistles continued to press forward and looked dangerous from corners which were fed in by Tom Kelly and eventually Chris Giles managed to get a head to one of them and put Thistles into the lead. This seamed to spur on the St Cleer team who then pushed on and began to play the better football. With Lee conceding a free kick just outside the box with a silly challenge St Cleer fired in a low shot which skidded under the Keeper to even up the scores again.

Then with St Cleer still reveling in there goal Thistles kicked off and laid the ball back to Simon Kelly who from fully 60 yds smashed the ball over the St Cleer keeper but under the cross bar with the ball settling into the bottom left hand corner of the net, Wayne Rooney eat your heart out. This was truly a remarkable goal which even the great Pele failed to achieve and more than made up for the earlier dissapointments.

Thistles did not play well and St Cleer never gave up and to there credit were gracious in defeat as Thistles usually are. Never did a group deserve a victory more than this with the Thistles keeper playing with badly swollen fingers and in a great deal of pain, Mike Blagdon played with a broken finger, Simon Kelly is having treatment for a bad back and Tom Kelly with a swollen ankle all playing through the pain barrier and showing great commitment to the cause. This will not go to there heads as the coaches know more work is required to keep themselves off of the bottom of the table at the end of the season.



HORSHAM LGE CUP
 Sunday 18 February
Plymouth Trophyman 4 v 0 Tavistock Thistles FC
 
After the euphoria off last week normal service was resumed with Thistles coming off second best to a quick passing and thinking Trophyman team. It only took them 15 minutes to break down the Thistles defence and score the opening goal.
 
Thistles did rally a bit during the half and skipper and man of the match Alan Kirby bore the brunt of some fearless challenges which left him prostate on the ground after the ball struck him. With only seconds remaining Thistles conceded a corner which was not properly dealt with and ended up in the net to give a distorted scoreline at the end of the half.
 
Some improvement was shown in the second half but to no avail and Trophyman scored a third. The two remaining Thistles subs were brought on at this time and Paul Redbourne with his first touch had a golden opportunity to pull one back but fired straight at the keeper who cleared the danger. Anthony Coles then had a goal disallowed following a dubious offside decision. Thistles continued to press and Redbourne did well to win a ball after a mix up in the Trophyman defence only once again to fire at the Keeper.
 
Trophyman sealed the tie with a fourth goal which killed of the match. Thistles did not allow a rout to take place and continued to defend fairly well but alas back to the drawing board

Chaddlewood Minors 5 v 0 Tavistock Thistles
 
Despite a 10 minute pre match talk about starting the game at a high tempo it took Chaddlewood around 45 seconds to score the first goal which was basically just walked into the net. Matters could have got worse but a mixture of poor finishing and good Goalkeeping this rode the early storm and eventually started to get a foot hold on the game and managed to have some chances of there own through Lee and Cudmore up front. The game was played at quite a high tempo which was made even more difficult by the lack of a breeze and the heat. Thistles through mostly hard work kept the score at 1 - 0 till half time which made the early goal even more difficult to swallow.
 
In the second half it took a bit longer for Chaddlewood to extend there first half lead after the restart, around 5 minutes and with it went any hope of sneaking a result, with some of the Thistles players being drawn to the sound of the running river down one touch line Thistles continued to loose there shape and Chaddlewood extended there lead eventually running in another 3 second half goals.
 
Although the effort shown eventually was commendable and every one gave 100% it was not enough to get a result and Thistles now have to rely on other results to avoid finishing bottom this season and be prepared to work hard pre season to make 2008 a better year.
 
Giles, Kirby, Lee and Allum played especially well and helped keep the score down to 5 but as mentioned before everyone did there bit
 
Thistles may have to do without 2 players who looked like they were auditioning for the new grease musicals characters Sandy and Danny but we wish them well.
 
Anyone interested in playing next season can contact the management though the web site www.tavistockthistles.co.uk to get further information or ring 07920 820933.
Tavistock Thistles 18s 1 v 1 Tavistock Town U16's  (Friendly)
 
Thanks to Tavistock AFC for the loan of there Langsford Park pitch and changing rooms for a friendly end of season game between two teams who have had quite different seasons with Town finishing second in there league and Thistles having a far less successful one to say the least. Knowing that Town had held AFC's U18's to a 1 v 1 draw a three weeks ago Thistles new they would have there work cut out on rain soaked night 8 days ago (it will be if you print this played on the 9th May) against a very good Town side who were full of confidence.
 
But Thistles started the brighter of the two teams closing down there opponents to stop there passing game whilst being quick and decisive going forward. With Simon Kelly and Gary Symons playing up front and causing all sorts of problems for the Town defence it was only going to be a matter of time before Thistles broke the deadlock and it was eventually Symons who finished off a move mainly orchestrated by Kelly. Town did have some half chances and caused the Thistles defence a few problems mainly from set pieces but it was Thistles who came closest to extending there lead with a couple of efforts clipping the bar and Giles going close with a couple of headers from successive corners, but the missed chances would prove to be costly by the end of the match.
 
After the break with Thistles having made 3 changes to enable all the players to get a game and before they could adjust to the pace of the game Town equalised with a good goal from another set piece and where unlucky to have a goal ruled out for offside, the rest of the game was hard fought with no team really getting to grips with the worsening conditions Hutchins had a great game in midfield for Town as did Allum in the Thistles goal. The match eventually petered out to end in a well earned draw for both teams. AFC also laid on some refreshments for after the game which was most appreciated by both teams.
 
Thistles are now looking to strengthen there squad and any one interested in playing U18 football next season can find our contact details on out web site www.tavistockthistles.co.uk/teams/u18s-06-07.html. you will also find links to the other age groups that Thistles run. We would also like to congratulate the Town U16 on there very successful season and wish them well for next season from the T.T.U18 squad and management.