DESPITE Bickland Park buzzing with the news that former Bodmin Town boss Alan Carey had agreed to be the new first team manager, it was Tavistock who came away from this match full of New Year cheer after upsetting the party with a 2-0 victory.

Falmouth, full of confidence, started the brighter. After just two minutes Adam Trudgian ran onto Sam Hunter’s good through-ball and his first-time shot was blocked by the Tavistock ‘keeper Andy Meeds before he hit the rebound just wide of the post.

Fifteen minutes into the game Falmouth had a free-kick 30 yards from goal but unfortunately Paul Wolstencroft’s strike hit the crossbar with Meeds beaten. Tavistock got a foot-hold in the game later in the half by forcing a couple of corners, the first ending with a dipping shot from Mike Southgate going over the bar and the second was punched clear by Chris Symons in the home goal. The visitors’ defence was being well marshalled by skipper Chris Menhenick and right-back Mike Arscott, resulting in few opportunities for Glen Squires and Sam Hunter to prove that their pairing up front could be the solution to Town’s goalscoring problems of late.

However, Squires did provide a good ball to Luke Appleton who’s first time shot was deflected wide.

Most of Tavistock’s play was getting bogged down in midfield as their well marked strikers waited in vain for a ball that they could put to good use.

Squires almost gave Town the lead when he hit a shot on the turn from 15 yards only to see it go just wide of the far post.

Two minutes into the second period, following a free-kick, Dave Rawlings rose well to power a header goalwards only to see Chris Menhenick clear it off the line.

Trudgian then linked well with Neil Slateford and the ball was pushed forward to Sam Hunter but his shot was blocked comfortably by Meeds.

The visitors took the lead on the hour when, as the Falmouth defence backed off, the ball was played across the area where Ryan Honey was waiting to pounce and he duly shot home from 12 yards.

Both sides then introduced their substitutes to try and change the pattern of the game with Shaun Halford, Bobby Bryant and Stuart Peters coming on for Town and, ex-Town boss, Andy Bowker, replacing Southgate for Tavistock.

The game still failed to reach any heights though with Town’s strikers continually getting caught in Tavistock’s offside trap and a series of free-kicks preventing any meaningful moves from developing.

Tavistock clinched all three points six minutes from time when the dangerous Glyn Hobbs was allowed too much space in the area and he coolly shot home from eight yards.

The match ended with Tavistock forcing another couple of corners in quick succession both of which were cleared away.

Falmouth will be hoping for more luck when they travel to Cullompton Rangers for a six pointer on Saturday. kick-off at Speeds Meadow is 3pm.