A superb performance on
Saturday saw Thistles U15's register their first win of the season - 5 - 0
against AFC Plympton...and it was a scoreline that flattered
Plympton.
Ed Argles scored his first ever
goal for Thistles in the first half, and just like London buses, his second ever
goal came with a second half tap in!!
A superb Matt Havron hat-trick
was completed on 55 mins with a stunning overhead kick that would grace any goal
of the month competition...it was a shame that we didn't have an action replay
facility available!!
Jack Haigh's backstrain is well
on the road to recovery following his first clean sheet of the season.
This achievement owed much to a strong performance by a new look solid back four
(Niall Murphy, Ben O'Neill, Robin Jones and Jay
Lambert).
Cadan Lowther took on the play
making central midfield role for the first time and looked very comfortable in
the new position, being well supported by Johnny Hake, they ensured a constant
supply the ball to Ed Argles and Jak Woodhouse who were playing in the wide
midfield positions.
Rob Wearing's work rate up
front and down the channels did not go unnoticed, and with a little more luck
and composure he may well have scored a hat-trick
himself.
The subs (Louis Wilson, Scott
Carr and Sam Walker) knew that, when they went on the pitch, they needed to put
in a big performance to match that of the players they replaced, and the
Management was pleased to see that this message was taken on board.
Plymouth Trophyman 2 Tavistock Thistles
1
Football can be a cruel game, and so it proved for
Thistles who came away from this game with nothing after a battling performance
that deserved at least a point.
Thistles started the game positively and took an
early lead. A deep corner from Tom Parry was driven back across the goal by Ed
Argles and turned in by Robin Jones - his first ever goal for
Thistles.
Thistles continued to press with Sam Newton and
Cadan Lowther battling in midfield, creating a half chance for Matt
Havron which he clipped just over the bar.
The Thistles defence blunted the Trophyman attack
repeatedly as Ben O'Neill, Niall Murphy and Robin Jones challenged solidly, and
never looked likely to concede. However, a moment of madness late in the first
half proved costly, when Trophyman were awarded a freekick on the edge of the
box. Thistles failed to organise their wall and Jack Haigh was unable to prevent
a strong shot crossing the line.
Trophyman came out in the second half meaning
business, but they didn't reckon on left back, Jay Lambert, who, after an
excellent first half, produced an awesome second half performance. On the rare
occassions that the defence was breached, the keeper, Haigh, came racing out
bravely to thrwart the Trophyman strikers.
Rob Wearing worked tirelessly to carve out chances,
well supported by Matt Jefferies, Scott Carr and Sam Walker, but to no avail and
the game appeared to be heading to a stalemate. Unfortunately, another late
burst saw the Thistles defence breached and Trophyman scored with the last kick
of the game. As I said, football can be a cruel
game.
Thistles U15's on fire against
Phoenix.
Tavistock Thistles 14 Phoenix City
0
Thistles quickly put the disappointment of last
weeks defeat behind them, as, from the kick off, Matt Havron burst through the
Phoenix defence and drove the ball home. His second followed soon after. The
shell-shocked City defenders soon gifted Thistles another when, after a spell of
sustained pressure, the ball was turned into their own net.
Some neat interplay on the right between Niall
Murphy and Ed Argles, released Rob Wearing who rounded the goalkeeper with style
to tuck away his first goal of the game, before forcing home an Argles corner
for his second and Thistles fifth.
Thistles sixth goal arrived just before half time,
when Tom Parry, who had delivered some good crosses from the left side
throughout the half, floated in a cross that cleared the keeper and curled into
the net.
Excellent defensive work from Ben O'Neill, Robin
Jones, Jay Lambert and Niall Murphy prevented the keeper, Jack Haigh, from
having to make a save, so when Thistles were awarded a penalty on the stroke of
half time he saw his opportunity to get involved in the game. Regrettably, Haigh
blasted the spot kick over the bar and Thistles went into the break leading 6 -
0.
Parry completed his hat-trick within 3 minutes of
the restart, as the Phoenix's flames were doused and the floodgates opened. Man
of the match, Cadan Lowther, worked tirelessly in midfield, ably supported by
Matt Jefferies and Jak Woodhouse, releasing new signing, Jonny Hake, to bag his
first two goals for the team.
Now everyone wanted to get in on the act. Robin
Jones appeared from nowhere to send a flying header just over the bar. Niall
Murphy and Jak Woodhouse peppered the goal with fine strikes which the Phoenix
keeper was equal to. Ben O'Neill and Scott Carr, both newly signed in the
summer, popped up to grab their first Thistles
goals. Not to be outdone Jay Lambert slotted home following a goal mouth
scramble, and Cadan Lowther towered above the City defence to head home his
first goal for Thistles, rounding off a fine move and completing a superb team
performance.
DJM Royal Oak U15's
Lipson Utd 5 Tavistock Thistles
4
Thistles rollercoaster season continued with a
rollercoaster result that left the team feeling down!!
The match started well, as Thistles tried to build
on last weeks positive result. Things were on the up as, following a Lipson
corner, Thistles countered quickly and Tom Parry was put through on goal. His
shot was parried by the keeper, but Robin Jones, who had made a lung bursting
run from his own area, picked up the rebound and, having broken a tackle, ran
the ball into the net.
The high didn't last long however, as Lipson
cleverly played the ball neatly through the Thistles defence to score two quick
goals. The damage might have been worse if it had not been for the speed
and agility of Jack Haigh. His 'man of the match' performance saw him bravely
diving at the feet of the on rushing Lipson strikers to keep Thistles in the
game.
Thistles started to apply themselves again.
Midfielders Ed Argles, Jak Woodhouse, Jonny Hake and Cadan Lowther worked hard
to carve out an opening for Jay Lambert who nearly levelled things when
his shot, which was curling into the top right corner, produced an outstanding
save from the Lipson keeper. But the downward spiral continued as Lipson broke
through again to make it 3 - 1 going into half time.
Thistles took to the field again determined to turn
things around, and no-one was more determined than Ben O'Neill who powered from
one end of the pitch to the other, riding five challenges, before calmly
slotting the ball past the onrushing keeper.
Thistles continued to apply the pressure, with
Scott Carr, Louis Wilson and Sam Newton desperately searching for the equaliser,
but when Lipson increased there lead, from a freekick that Thistles failed to
clear, it looked like the game was up.
But this is a Thistles team that refuses to accept
defeat. Defenders, Robin Jones and Ben O'Neill turned midfielders, and
their determination forced two errors from the Lipson keeper, and Rob Wearing,
who had never stopped running, was on hand to poke home both chances and level
the match.
Captain, Niall Murphy, inspired the team with his
solid defensive work, and it appeared that Thistles were heading for a richly
deserved point, but this was cruelly snatched from them when, in the dying
moments of the game, Lipson forced the ball home from a corner.
Tavistock Thistles 2 Hooe Rovers
1
Injuries to key players meant that Thistles had to
ring the changes, but the players dug in deep and ensured that they hit the
right note.
Thistles dominated the first half, and defenders Ed
Argles, Robin Jones, Jay Lambert and Scott Carr looked untroubled by a tame
looking Hooe attack. Indeed it was Carr who, following some neat flowing
football, popped up on the edge of the box to shoot just over.
Cadan Lowther and Jonny Hake controlled the
midfield, releasing wide players, Sam Newton and Louis Wilson, to tease the
Rovers defenders and strikers, Sam Walker and Rob Wearing, both saw chances go
close.
Thistles broke the deadlock midway through the
first half when Wilson flighted a sweet freekick into the run of Hake, who
calmly slotted the ball home.
Another injury, this time to Robin Jones, saw
Lowther drop back into central defence, but they remained solid. Goalkeeper,
Jack Haigh, was left with very little to do, but he remained alert and, on the
rare occasion that the defence was breached, he came quickly off his line and
dived bravely at the feet of the Hooe striker.
The introduction of Sam Hortopp breathed new
life into the Thistles attack. His enterprise earned a corner, which was only
half cleared by a Hooe defender, and Louis Wilson was on hand to drive the ball
into the top corner and claim his first goal for Thistles.
The second half saw Hooe come back into the game.
Playing up the slope and into the wind, Thistles struggled to gain any momentum
and had to defend stoutly. Man of the match, Jay Lambert marshalled the defence
well and made challenge upon challenge to break up the Hooe attacks. Keeper
Haigh narrowed the angles well to block a shot with his legs, and Lowther chased
what had appeared a lost cause to make a last ditch challenge just as the Hooe
striker was about to pull the trigger.
Eventually, with 15 minutes left, Hooe made the
pressure count and fired home, when Thistles failed to clear a corner. This set
up a nail biting finish, but Thistles battled to the last, to hang on for a well
deserved victory.
Tavistock Thistles 4 SB Frankfurt 5
Another battling performance from a 'never say die' Thistles, once again saw
them leave the pitch empty handed.
It all started so well with Thistles taking the upper hand. In the early
stages of the game, Jonny Hake, Louis Wilson and Cadan Lowther won the midfield
battle, releasing Rob Wearing and Scott Carr to do damage on the wings. Within
the first 10 minutes they managed to put Tom Parry through on goal and he coolly
slotted the ball home - twice!!
At 2 - 0 the Thistles defenders, Ed Argles, Jay Lambert, Ben O'Neill and
Robin Jones, were tackling hard and looking comfortable. But, after half an hour
had elapsed, all their good work was undone in a 2 minute moment of madness, as
SB Frankfurt drew level.
The introduction of substitutes, Matt Jefferies and Sam Hortopp, put new
spark into the Thistles game and, following a nice interchange of passes, Tom
Parry was on hand to complete his hat-trick. However, before Thistles had
finished celebrating, Frankfurt struck back again.
The game continued to swing from end to end, but Thistles determination
ensured that they went into half time leading, when Parry smashed home his
fourth goal.
The second half saw the introduction of Sam Walker, who battled hard to keep
Thistles in the game, but the momentum turned in Frankfurt's favour. Keeper,
Jack Haigh, produced a man of the match performance, but even he was unable to
prevent SB Frankfurt from stealing the victory.
Match Reports:
DJM Royal Oak - U15's
AFC Plympton 1 Tavistock Thistles
2
After a waterlogged January, Tavistock got back to
playing football. However, it appeared that they had forgotten how to play as
Plympton scored immediately from the kick-off.
Thistles regrouped and quickly rediscovered the
football formula. Niall Murphy and Ben O'Neill dominated the midfield whilst Sam
Newton and Sam Walker provided the width from which new boy, Scottie Reroma, was
released to unnerve the Plympton defence and it
was only going to be a matter of time before the defence was
breached.
Plympton cracked under the pressure and conceded a
penalty 15 mins into the game. Up stepped Rob Wearing to coolly slot the ball
home.
Thistles maintained the pressure and were rewarded
with a second goal 10 minutes later when,
following a corner, the ball pinballed around the penalty area, before finally
being slotted home by Ben O'Neill.
As half time approached Plympton fought back and
won a succession of corners, but solid goalkeeping from Jack Haigh ensured that
Tavistock ended the half on top.
In the second half Thistles had the biting wind
behind them, and combined with a biting defence of Jay Lambert, Robin Jones, Ed
Argles and Cadan Lowther, Plympton had no chance of coming back into the game
and became increasingly frustrated.
Sam Hortopp and Scott Carr were brought on to
inject some more energy into the Tavistock attack. However, Thistles continuing
failure to put away their chances ensured that supporters were left biting there
nails instead of enjoying what should have been a comfortable
victory.
Man of the Match - Ben O'Neill.
DJM Royal Oak U15's
Phoenix City 3 Tavistock Thistles
5
Thistles strung together back to back wins in a
game which was won more comfortably than the scoreline suggests.
Tavistock were dominant from the first whistle with
midfielders, Cadan Lowther, Niall Murphy, Rob Wearing and Sam Newton dictating
the play. Good movement from the strikers Sam Walker and Scottie Reroma
stretched the Phoenix defence and created gaps. These were soon exploited,
as Lowther threaded a ball into the run of Walker who slid the ball past the
keeper to claim his first Thistles goal.
Try as they might, Phoenix could find no way past
the Thistles defenders Ed Argles, Johnny Hake, Jay Lambert and Robin Jones.
Thistles continued to press and went close when a shot from Newton struck the
bar. Lowther nearly doubled the lead when he headed just wide from a corner.
Tavistock were eventually rewarded for their endeavours when Walker chased down
another through ball to slot home his, and Thistles, second. Moments later, on
the stroke of half time, Hake volleyed home a Wearing corner to give Thistles a
respectable 0 - 3 lead at the interval.
Tavistock struck again immediately from the
restart, when Lowther played a ball over the Phoenix defence, and new signing
Reroma calmly beat the keeper to record his first
goal for the club.
City were given the opportunity to get into the
game when an Argles challenge on the edge of the box resulted in a penalty, but
keeper, Jack Haigh, produced a stunning double save to keep Phoenix at bay.
Unfortunately his heroics were in vain as, moments later, following a goalmouth
scramble, Phoenix scored a hotly disputed goal.
Thistles regrouped, and again increased their
lead. A great passing move down the right between Sam Hortopp, Ed Argles and
Reroma saw the ball played back to Lowther, who smashed it home from the edge of
the penalty box, and, moments later, he should have made it 6, when he failed to
make the most of a great shooting opportunity.
Having establihed a dominant lead, Tavistock hit
the self-destruct button as the defence went walkabout allowing City to score
two late goals, which took the shine off what was a good Thistles
performance.
Man of the Match - Cadan
Lowther.
DJM Royal Oak U15's
Tavistock Thistles 1 Plymouth
Trophyman 3
This was always going to be a tough game against a
team that was more intent on kicking Thistles players than they were the ball,
and Tavistock went behind after just 5 minutes.
Midfielders, Jonny Hake, Rob Wearing, Sam Newton
and Cadan Lowther, endeavoured to play football as they dodged elbows and studs.
But goalkeeper, Jack Haigh, was not so lucky, when he took the full force of
what, at best, could be described as a late challenge...but is normally called
ABH, fully in the face, as a Trophyman player chose to run through him rather
than around him. Moments later, a dazed Haigh was beaten by a long range shot
which swerved awkwardly in a strong wind.
Not content with kicking the keeper, the Plymouth
player then decided to make more of an impact on the game. This time the impact
he made was 6 stud prints in the thigh of a Thistles defender, following a
challenge that arrived 10 seconds after the ball had gone. However, this was not
enough to attract the attention of the ref, who kept his cards and whistle
firmly in his pocket.
Thistles persevered, but despite hard running
by Scottie Reroma, Sam Walker, Louis Wilson and Sam Hortopp they were unable to
create any clear chances.
As half time approached the Trophyman tough-guy
eventually found his way into the referees book, following another stud first
assault on the Thistles keeper. The Plymouth Manager was furious, insisting his
player was going for the ball, without specifying which one. In the interest of
consistency and fairplay, the ref also booked Thistles defender, Robin Jones,
for ungentlemanly conduct after a comment was directed towards the keeper's
assailant.
Shortly into the second half Trophyman scored their
third, after Haigh released the ball in order to protect himself from another
sliding challenge which came his way. However, Thistles heads didn't drop and,
playing down the slope and with the wind behind them, they began to create some
chances, but shots from Tom Parry and Jonny Hake failed to trouble the
keeper.
Defenders Ed Argles, Jay Lambert, Robin Jones and
Ben O'Neill showed tremendous spirit as they endeavoured to keep Trophyman at
bay. Lambert showed great skill in sheilding the ball back into Haigh's hands
and preventing the Plymouth captain having a run on goal, and was rewarded for
his good work with a scything kick from the frustrated player. Haigh launched
the ball upfield and it was flicked on, into the run of Parry, who coolly
slotted the ball past the keeper and into the corner of the net.
From this moment Trophyman were hanging on as
Thistles pressed forward in numbers, desperate to get something from the game.
Lowther came close twice following corners, and Lambert sent a shot fizzing past
the post, but they were unable to make the pressure count.
Man of the Match - Jay Lambert
DJM Royal Oak - U15's
Tavistock Thistles 4 Railway
Beacon 5
From sublime to ridiculous in 80 minutes, Thistles
managed to produce their best and worst performances of the season, in a game of
two halves.
Playing against the leagues high-flyers, no-one
really gave Tavistock a prayer before the whistle blew, and this was especially
true of a confident Beacon side who just thought they needed to turn up. But,
playing down the slope, with a strong wind behind them, Thistles sparkled,
playing an expansive style of football that was missing from recent
games.
Cadan Lowther, Sam Newton and Jonny Hake were
dominant in midfield, whilst Rob Wearing struck panic into the Beacon defence
every time he touched the ball. Wearing was quickly rewarded for his efforts,
when after a strong run he was able to slide the ball home from a tight angle.
Strikers, Tom Parry and Scottie Reroma showed great
movement off the ball, and Lowther quickly took advantage by slipping the ball
into the path of Parry who calmly passed it into the net for his ninth goal in
nine games.
Defenders, Ben O'Neill, Ed Argles, Robin Jones and
Jay Lambert held a strong line and prevented the Beacon strikers from creating
any chances. Jones had the opportunity to get up for a corner and his strike
produced a fine save from the Beacon keeper, but Reroma reacted quickly to head
home the rebound.
Brimming with confidence, Thistles passed and moved
with an air of authority. Another Wearing shot could only be parried into the
path of the advancing Louis Wilson who swept the ball home to put Tavistock 4 -
0 up at half time.
Minutes into the second half Thistles were awarded
a penalty, but the resultant spot kick was missed and suddenly the game was
turned on its head. Thistles confidence vanished as Beacon began to pile on the
pressure, and they lost the ability to keep possession of the ball. Beacon
pulled back three quick goals from sett pieces as Thistles forgot how to defend.
Tavistock then lost the services of keeper, Jack
Haigh, who was injured when bravely diving at the feet of a Beacon player who
was clean through on goal. He was replaced in goal by Hake, who, moments
later, was unlucky to have a dubious penalty decision given against him. Beacon
converted the spot kick.
Beacon bombarded the Thistles penalty area with
long throws and long punts forward, but it looked as though Tavistock would hang
on for a point, but cruelly, for the fourth time this season, Thistles were
beaten with the last kick of the game.