Tavistock AFC fall to narrow home defeat despite spirited display against high-flying Portishead

Tavistock AFC were left frustrated after a spirited performance ended in a narrow 1-2 defeat at home to Portishead Town at Langsford Park, despite late drama and long spells of pressure from the hosts.

The Lambs went into Saturday’s encounter on the back of seven successive losses, with this encounter only Tavi’s third home game since the start of November, with four successive away games proving a tricky period for the West Devon outfit.

READ NEXT: Phil Lowe: The man who’s shaped more than 50 years of football in Devon

Portishead had begun the Southern League Division One South season well, finding themselves in the top two at the start of play, with Stuart Henderson’s men knowing they would have to be at their very best to get anything from the strong Somerset-based outfit.

Tavistock started the affair brightly, pressing early and carving out chances. Young forward Ryan White went close inside ten minutes when he broke into the box but dragged his effort wide, before further openings fell to Tom Chastey from range and Jack Crago, whose close-range effort was cleared off the line by the Posset defence. 

The Lambs continued to pile on pressure, with young midfielder Clark and Number 10 Chastey both testing the visiting goalkeeper, but the breakthrough would instead come at the other end.

Against the run of play on 35 minutes, Portishead were awarded a penalty when Ethan Feltham was brought down. Although the initial spot kick was saved, Feltham reacted quickest to tuck away the rebound. 

Five minutes later, the visitors doubled their advantage as Feltham raced through again to finish clinically and make it 0-2 to Posset at the break.

Tavistock regrouped after half-time and made changes in search of a way back into the contest. Chances followed, including a powerful effort from Baxter and continued pressure into the Portishead box, but frustration grew as the visitors defended stubbornly. 

A brief flashpoint saw a stoppage following a challenge involving Donovan, before the Lambs pushed forward in the closing stages.

Their persistence was finally rewarded deep into stoppage time when returning forward Henry Donovan poked home from close range to pull one back and set up a nervy finale. 

Despite a late surge, however, the equaliser wouldn’t come, and Portishead held on for all three points.

A festive boost saw a season-high attendance at Langsford Park of 275.

The Lambs will take encouragement from a hard-working performance with positive spells and will look to turn those positives into points when they travel to fellow Devon side and fellow strugglers Brixham AFC next Saturday.