There is excitement in the Tavistock AFC as the Tavistock Ladies Team taste well deserved victories in recent matches. The new Tavi Ladies team has recently formed by an amalgamation between the old Tavi Ladies and the Lamerton Ladies who brought with them their coach Mark Wickett. Two former Tavistock players remain and there have been a few new signings over the summer. Last season, the Lamerton Ladies, which had been running for 2 years, were placed second to last in their league, and won only one game, despite a steady improvement. However as the fitness and skills of the girls have improved with experience and dedicated coaching, things are taking a turn for the better. A series of difficult friendly matches towards the end of the summer, gave the team the experience they needed to make a fantastic start in the Westward Development League, Division 2. One of these matches was against Newquay Ladies, who won by 15 goals, but play in the Southern Premier league alongside teams like Crystal Palace and West Ham. They admired the skills of Tavistock goalkeeper, Zoe Stock, so much so they even invited her to play for them. Zoe is keen to remain loyal to her Tavistock team-mates and hometown for the timebeing, and hopefully help them to work their way up the league. The first league game of the season took place in Exeter, against The Phoenix Club Ladies, and Tavi returned triumphant with a 4-3 victory. Two goals were scored by Ana Ontoria (Tavistocks’ Spanish signing from Zaragoza), and one each from Cara Grant (striker) and Rachel Kelly (right wing). But a great game was played by all, especially Alison Hurley (right defence). There was disappointment in the second game of the season against Okehampton Argyle, with two key players missing from the Tavistock side, and Okehampton scraping a victory in the last 7 minutes. Tavi held their own for all of the first half, with Rachel Kelly putting in a commendable effort in goal. Credit must be given to Okehampton who scored their goal from a good kick, a fair distance out from the goal. The Tavistock girls got their revenge, however, last week, when they played away at Okehampton Argyle and secured a fantastic 3-1 win. Some great football was played, with Emma Beesley, left defence, working hard up and down the wing, and goals were scored by Nicky Crocker (right wing and team secretary) and both strikers, one of which is Aisha Clarke, a skilled former Tavistock player. Team Captain, Tina Parker (centre back) kept the team of defenders tight and motivated, just as she encourages the team in training and warm-ups. Training takes place on Tuesday evenings at Langsford Park in the summer months and on the astro-turf at Kelly College during the winter. A sponsorship deal with a successful local company is being discussed and will be announced shortly. In the Nick of time.   An unbelievable goal by Nicky Crocker in the final 2 minutes, saved the match for Tavistock Ladies against Torridgeside in round one of the Devon County Womens Cup.   Tavistock got off to a good start with a goal at fifteen minutes by striker, Cara Grant, who ran onto a good forward pass by Aisha Clarke, manouvering around the goalkeeper and slicing it in from a tight angle with her left foot.   It was a fairly evenly matched game although Tavi did have the majority of possession and played some of their best ball to feet football so far. However, a good goal from a Torridgeside striker evened the scores and kept Tavi defenders on their toes. Jo Webber and Alison Hurley both played a great game in defence, not once allowing Torridgeside through on the right hand side.   The Tavi ladies fought hard to get goals from several opportunities, but none were forthcoming. That is, until a good pass from Jen Mortlock, midfield, to Aisha Clarke, striker, who, seeing the opportuntiy, made sure it arrived at Nicky Crocker on the right wing. Almost from the side line, Crocker belted it at the goal. Perfectly on target, and arriving at head height. The Torrideside keeper put her hands up to block it and the ball slipped up and over her head and into the net to cheers from the Tavi crowd. It was a well deserved 2-1 victory for the Tavi ladies. Team Effort at Tavi. The score reflected the immense team effort that took place on and off the pitch for the Tavistock Ladies Football Team on Sunday. Beating the Torrington team ‘Torridgeside Ladies’ at home for the second week running, this time in the Westward Development League, was a great achievement, for a team that were struggling to win a match last season. The 2-1 victory the previous week did not make the girls complacent, only more determined to prove to their rivals, who the better team was. A new and committed addition to the team, Donna Weller, in central defence, and a few changes of position for some players, helped to make the difference. Alison Hurley was released from the back four into central midfield and made some excellent passes through to the strikers. Rachel Kelly proved her value on the left wing with a fantastic goal, after just ten minutes, taking on a defender on the wing before a powerful strike at goal. Supporters watched an exciting first half as striker, Cara Grant, scored a hat trick of goals. Two of these were from insightful forward passes from team-mates allowing her to take advantage of her speed to beat the defenders to the ball and face the goalkeeper one on one. The third was a rebound from a corner ball, placed right in front of the goal by Aisha Clarke. This put the Tavi Ladies 4-0 up at half time. The real star of the match was Jess Turner in central midfield, who played a very impressive game of football, always in the right place at the right time and winning the ball from every tackle, providing strong support for both defence and strikers. Twenty minutes into the second half Aisha Clarke produced a forceful goal from outside the box and there was no way the Torridgeside goalkeeper could block it. Hannah Robins came on as a substitute for Cara Grant during the second half and made some good runs and shots at goal, but despite her efforts no goals came from it. Beth Weymouth came on and played well in midfield. Successes this week also lay in the tight defence captained by Tina Parker. Torridgeside only managed to sneak one goal past the strong Tavistock team, in the second half, resulting in a final score of 5-1, but they really didn’t have a chance. Another Hat trick !!! Tavistock Ladies AFC 3 - 0  Plainmoor Ladies    Tavistock ladies football team travelled to Torquay on Sunday to play the relatively new team, the Plainmoor Ladies, and notched up another win in the Westward Development League pushing them yet further up the scoreboard. However, the driving wind and rain did not make for easy conditions especially in the first half where the Tavi girls were running uphill. Some good passes were played, especially by Robin Huddlestone and Jen Mortlock in defence, but good ball to feet football was difficult to achieve on the slippy terrain. The Plainmoor Ladies put up a good fight and their talented goalkeeper saved several good shots from Tavistock side and the score remained nil-nil at half time. The bad weather eased off in the second half and the first goal for Tavi came after a corner ball taken by Aisha Clarke and rebounding before being lifted into the top left corner of the net by a kick from striker, Cara Grant. Holly Krotke and Rachel Kelly worked well together in right midfield opening up some opportunities for goals, and the second came when Rachel Kelly headed a throw-in over two defenders to place the ball perfectly for Cara to lay into the corner of the net.  Donna Weller was once again as asset to the team, this time on the left wing, and kicked a perfect cross in to the strikers, with only a minute to go on the clock. The ball skidded through the legs of two defenders and Cara was there to get a great goal from a tight angle, out of reach of the goalkeeper, into the top corner of the net. Amazingly it has been the second hat trick, two weeks running for the happy striker but credit must be given to the team effort from all the Tavistock Ladies that made it happen. Ten - nil defeat Lipson United 10 - 0 Tavistock Ladies AFC On Sunday came the first serious defeat of the season for the Tavistock Ladies football team, who had been enjoying a succession of wins at the top of the Westward Development league division 2. Playing away at Lipson United, Plymouth; the Tavistock girls held their heads up and didn’t give in, despite the differences in experience between the two teams. The young Lipson team, although new to the ladies league, have been playing together through the girls leagues since the age of eleven. Entering the league in Division two they are bound to work their way up to the Premier division. Having played fewer games in the league so far, they are not at the top of the league table as yet, but are undefeated and have scored more goals than any other team, so it is clear where they are headed. Scoring after just a few minutes, it was soon obvious what was going to happen and the score at half time was five – nil. The final score did not reflect the enormous effort put in by the admired Tavistock goalkeeper, Zoe Stock, who prevented a cricket score, with some fantastic saves. The Lipson girls were very experienced at passing the ball around the midfield and the defence to let them through to shoot. Robin Huddlestone, playing in right defence for Tavistock, had a great game and showed a determination that the girls needed to battle onwards. Tania Coker came on after half time as a striker and made some good runs and attempts to get around the fast Lipson defence. Donna Hone, recently signed on for the Tavi Ladies after having a baby three months ago, is a new asset to the team and made some excellent tackles and passes on the right wing before going off to breast feed at half time! The Tavistock Ladies did not tire or give up without a fight, and kept their enthusiasm in the second half, conceding the same number of goals as in the first.