Report by Paddy Gladman

Cleeve took the lead after 22’ minutes courtesy of an empathic penalty from Toby Holland, which was awarded to the hosts after Ross Langworthy’s header that looked destined to beat Tavistock’s Aaron Dearing, was denied by a flailing arm from a defender.

After taking the lead, the Mitres continued to dominate possession, limiting the visitors to few chances. In the meanwhile, Langworthy and Holland both had chances to double the lead, but saves from Dearing ensured that the score would only remain 1-0 to the hosts at half-time.

Cleeve came out for the second half with similar attacking intent, but it was the Lambs who scored next.

Substitute Daniel Koita hit the hosts on the counterattack as he forced his way into the penalty area before being bundled to the ground, earning Tavi a penalty against the run of play.

Liam Prynn stepped up and sent Liam Armstrong the wrong way, to level things up in the 52nd minute.

Confidence was up amongst the away ranks after their equaliser, and Tavistock soon scored a second on the hour mark. Edward Harrison’s left footed shot found the bottom corner, following a low cross from the left flank which Cleeve failed to deal with.

Thankfully for Paul Collicutt, it took his side just two minutes for Cleeve to respond though, as captain Langworthy led by example, meeting Jay Malshanskyj’s cross with a bullet header!

The Mitres then retook the lead in the 76th minute when Malshanskyj capitalised on a poor back pass from a Tavistock defender before composing himself and blasting into the bottom corner beyond the helpless Dearing.

Once more Tavi responded though, as Koita rose from a corner to powerfully head home an equaliser for the Lambs in the 83rd minute, leaving the game firmly in the balance with not long left to play!

The drama wasn’t over as the fourth official raised his board to signal four minutes of additional time and in the 91st minute, Alex Battle blasted a superb strike into the roof of the net; handing Tavistock victory.

Manager Paul Collicutt described it as a “bitter pill to swallow,” after seeing his side concede four despite not conceding a shot on target in the first half.

It was a cruel one for the Mitres to take after they had led twice on the day and could have moved up into the play offs, had they earned all three points.

Instead, the result leaves Cleeve in 7th, while Tavistock climb to 13th, four points adrift of the Mitres but with four games in hand.

VEO Footage (click here) of the match is available.