Tavistock hold a slender advantage
THE race for the Western League Premier Division title could not be any closer and it is Tavistock that head into the final weekend with the slenderest of margins over secondplaced Exmouth Town.
An incredible crowd of 728 were in attendance at Southern Road on Wednesday night as the top two went head to head and it was Exmouth that emerged as victors courtesy of Levi Landricombe’s goal shortly after half-time.
Jordan Annear headed against the outside of the post from a Iestyn Harris cross, as Tavi sought a response, but on a shocker of a pitch, the Lambs could not find that equalising goal.
It means they head into tomorrow’s match against Ashton & Backwell level on points with Exmouth and their slender advantage being that they are one better off in terms of goal difference from Kevin Hill’s side, who finish at Shepton Mallet this weekend.
“It’s all about getting a result on Saturday,” Tavi boss Stuart Henderson said ahead of the game. “Obviously goal difference comes into contention, but I think, if both teams did win, they would go up under the points-per-game rule, as I understand it.
“For us, it’s just about getting three points, but it will be difficult because they are fighting for their lives and their results have been really good of late.
“It’s going to be a Cup Final and a game which will be a complete opposite to Exmouth, it will be about what we can do on our pitch with the ball and hopefully we do what’s needed to win the game.”
Tavistock fared much better in their last home game where they plundered nine goals past doomed Bridport. It was a devastating display of attacking football from Henderson’s side, but while Ashton sit one place above Bridport, he is expecting a much tougher match.
“The game plan will be to win the game,” he said. “As I say, they may be down at the bottom of the league, but you only have to look at their results – they have beaten Mousehole, they’ve beaten us, they beat Helston and went down to Mousehole and drew… their form since Christmas has been very good, certainly not relegation form.
“I don’t expect it to be anything like the game on Monday, so it is all about us winning the game. If we do end up finishing level on points and get pipped on goal difference, then that’s just the way it is, but our thoughts first and foremost are just to win the game.”
With so little between Tavistock and Exmouth, Henderson is hoping to have someone at Shepton Mallet to keep him informed of what is happening in the game.
“That is something we are looking to do,” he said. “Social media isn’t always up to speed, so it would be nice to have someone there in person able to relay what’s happening, so that is something we are looking to get sorted before the weekend.”
Elsewhere, Saltash United can end the season in fourth place if they can beat Brislington at Kimberley Stadium, while Millbrook will be looking to bounce back from Monday’s 9-0 mauling at Exmouth when they head to Street.
Helston Athletic and Buckland Athletic clash at Kellaway Park, Ilfracombe host Bitton and Mousehole finish their season at Keynsham Town.