Falmouth Town 1, Tavistock 2

TOM Annear’s second-half strike proved to be in vain for Falmouth Town, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to high-flying Tavistock in SWPL Premier on Saturday, writes Matt Friday.

The damage was done in the first half with the visitors scoring twice, and Town were unable to recover as they suffered their first defeat since December 17.

The home side were looking for their fourth successive victory, but they fell behind in the second minute when Tavistock’s Lewis Daw tucked the ball in from close range.

Tavistock dominated the early exchanges, but Falmouth came close to levelling via Ed Timmons, whose effort was tipped onto the crossbar by visiting goalkeeper Josh Oak.

Town were growing in confidence, but they missed a golden chance to equalise when Tom Annear’s driven cross found Rob Wearne, who blazed the ball over from six yards.

Falmouth were left to rue that miss as Tavistock doubled their lead in the final moments of the first half, with Josh Grant rising to head Dave Hallett’s free-kick past Ryan Barnes.

Town began to take the game to their opponents in the second half, with Wearne and Jordan Annear looking the most likely to haul the hosts back into the game.

It was Tom Annear who eventually got Falmouth’s goal, as he fired the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to set up an interesting final 20 minutes.

With time running out Falmouth showed greater urgency as they searched for an equaliser, which they almost found courtesy of Dan Richardson, but his shot was saved by Oak.

Tavistock could have secured the points in injury time, when Jack Crago bore down on goal and tried to slot past Barnes, but the keeper did enough to deny the striker.

Falmouth: R Barnes, E Timmons, H Clark (G Squires 81), T Whipp, J Cooper, R Pope, M Vanes (J Stocker 70), D Richardson, R Wearne, J Annear, T Annear.

Packet Pick: Dan Richardson – heavily involved in Falmouth’s improved second half, with excellent passing throughout.

Falmouth’s next match is an away game against Torpoint Athletic in the SWPL Premier on Saturday, which will be a dress rehearsal for their Senior Cup quarter-final tie next month.