Match report for Tavistock vs Plymouth Argyle on 14 Jul 18

Tavistock AFC 1
Coombes 

Argyle 5
Carey 2 (2 pens), Ladapo, Lameiras, J Grant 

ARGYLE’S goal-laden build-up to the new Sky Bet League One campaign continued on two fronts on Saturday. 

While the Pilgrims’ second- and first-year professionals and top apprentices were winning 5-0 at Helston’s Kellaway Park, the senior squad eased past Tavistock with two penalties from Graham Carey, and goals from Freddie Ladapo, Ruben Lameriras and Joel Grant. 

Pre-season remains a time for experimentation and embedding fitness so nothing should be read into manager Derek Adams’ decision to line up with three central defenders against their South West Peninsula League hosts, Scott Wootton flanked by Ryan Edwards on the right and Niall Canavan on the left. 

Canavan, incidentally, became the only player to have started all three of the Pilgrims warm-up games so far this summer.

Any ideas that the game might be a stroll in Langsford Park were extinguished inside the first five minutes, when Lewis Coombes, a man in the employ of the Argyle Community Trust, found space in behind the five-man back line, rounded goalkeeper Harry Burgoyne, and caressed the ball home.

The Pilgrims were not behind for long. David Fox’s clever little pass into Ladapo’s quick feet disorientated the Lambs’ defence enough for them to clatter into the Argyle No.19. Carey stepped up to convert the spot-kick with typical aplomb.

Argyle took the lead in precisely the same manner, with Carey winning a second penalty after enticing Lambs’ goalkeeper Josh Oak to fell him with a careless arm. Again, there was no doubt where the ball was going to end up.

If the first two goals had been a bit ho-hum, the third was a picture-book strike, emanating from Wottoon at the back and working through half the team until Gary sawyer slung over a cross perfectly measured for Freddie’s head, who, in turn, placed his deft header past Oak with expert deliberation. 

Argyle tweaked shape and personnel at the interval and quickly extended their lead through one of the new men, Lameiras netting his second goal in about six minutes of playing time.

Never, for a moment, did Tavistock think about throwing in the towel, which resulted in an increasingly open and entertaining game. 

Given that, it was hardly surprising that the Pilgrims dominated and stretched their lead through Joel Grant, with veteran midfielder David Fox providing the opportunity. 

What was more surprising, although testimony to the Lambs’ unwillingness to be slaughtered, that they did not add to another satisfactory afternoon’s work. 

Tavistock AFC (4-4-2): 1 Josh OAK; 2 Ben CROSS (18 half-time), 14 Ben DAVIES, 5 Lewis DAW, 3 Josh ROBINS; 11 Jack CRAGO (19 Alex CAIRO 70), 8 Dave HALLETT (17 CLIFFTON 80), 16 Reece SHANLEY, 12 Tyler ELLIOTT; 9 Liam PRYNN, 20 Lewis COOMBES (7 Tallan BURNS 60). Substitute (not used): 15 Cory BURNS.

Argyle (5-3-2): 1 Harry BURGOYNE (21 Kyle LETHEREN half-time); 2 Joe RILEY (22 Tafari MOORE half-time), 5 Ryan EDWARDS, 25 Scott WOOTTON (6 Jamie NESS half-time), 14 Niall CANAVAN (24 Peter GRANT 65), 3 Gary SAWYER (capt, 23 Ashley SMITH-BOWN half-time); 4 Yann SONGO’O (17 Lionel AINSWORTH 65), 10 Graham CAREY (20 Gregg WYLDE 65), 8 David FOX; 18 Calum DYSON (11 Ruben LAMEIRAS half-time), 19 Freddie LADAPO (16 Joel GRANT half-time). Substitute (not used): 15 Conor GRANT.

Referee : Lee Swabey.