Blazey stunned as keeper rescues point for Tavistock in thriller

GOALKEEPER Dan Holman hammered home a magnificent header in the final seconds to rescue a deserved point for Tavistock in a six-goal thriller at Blaise Park on Wednesday night.

The game was into its seventh minute of stoppage time with St Blazey hanging onto a 3-2 lead when the visitors won a corner and Holman joined the rest of the Tavistock team in the Blazey penalty area.

Reece Shanley’s corner from the right was perfectly placed for Holman to rise and send a thunderous header from 10 yards into the net to spark wild celebrations among the Tavistock ranks.

Olly Redd (5 minutes), Tallan Mitchell (54) and Kai Burrell (82) were on target for Blazey with Tom Chastey (45+1), Shane White (59) and Holman (90+7) replying.

The home side were handicapped in time added on by being down to 10 men after striker Burrell was harshly sent off after a dubious second yellow card given by a referee whose performance was the only negative on a positive night of local football.

While Tavistock celebrated a point that was the least they deserved, the Green and Blacks were left to reflect on the two points that got away as they extended their unbeaten start to the season in all competitions to seven games.

Blazey boss Dan Hart said: “It was the fair result when all was said and done. I didn’t feel we were at our best for various reasons throughout the 90 minutes.

“Losing Jack Calver, essentially in the opening exchanges, it hurts us – he is such a massive part of the way in which we play and hurt teams.

“However, several players were asked to do unnatural roles, to switch positions in-game and responded well.

“I think both management teams will be frustrated by the six goals. Only really our first is unavoidable, a moment of class from Cam Hutchison set Olly (Redd) away and he finished well.

“The rest, all in transition or from set plays. So speaking selfishly, I’m disappointed with the final moment despite how special it was for Dan Holman and the spectacle itself.

“However, I believe it led us to perhaps the right scoreline, it was certainly the best Tavistock we’ve seen across the three games, and I felt we were just a little off it despite always being a threat.

“It was a fantastic advert for the league, there was real entertainment out there and when all is said and done – a lot of mutual respect too between all immersed in that battle.”

He added: “We now get the opportunity to dust ourselves down and go into the FA Cup on the weekend against free scoring Barnstaple from the league above.

“We will approach the game properly and try to continue things we have been working on, ahead of the home game against Clevedon on the 29th in the league.”

In contrast to the two FA Cup ties between the sides in recent weeks which had been tight affairs, this game started with a bang when Cam Hutchison’s perfect pass sent Redd through and he finished superbly to make it 1-0 after five minutes.

Mitchell could have doubled the lead soon after but dragged his shot wide and he had another opportunity in the 32nd minute but sent his shot over the bar.

Tavistock grew into the game and it took a fine save from Kyle Moore to deny Jack Crago after 41 minutes.

But they were level in first half stoppage time. Given that there were only seconds to half-time, Blazey were risking it by pushing so many players forward for a corner and when the ball broke, Tavistock were suddenly two on two.

A perfect pass from Callum Watson sent Chastey clear and he fired an excellent low shot past Moore to equalise.

Sam Clifton replaced the injured Calver at the start of the second half and Blazey went back into the lead within nine minutes with a fine finish from Mitchell, who had spurned two easier chances in the first half.

But Tavistock were level within five minutes as excellent skipper White rose to head in Shanley’s corner.

The visitors then had a great chance to take the lead for the first time in the 66th minute when Crago burst clear along the right and produced a stunning low cross which just evaded Deacon Thomson.

Burrell then had an effort wiped out for what looked a dubious offside decision before man of the match Ben Fowles burst clear but saw his shot brilliantly kept out by Holman.

Burrell’s next opportunity, in the 82nd minute, ended with a goal, a powerful right foot shot fired low past Holman after cutting in from the left side of the penalty area to put Blazey 3-2 ahead.

But he wasn’t able to celebrate for long, shown a red card in the 89th minute, and then came Holman’s heroics. Quite a night.

St Blazey: Kyle Moore, Will Tinsley, Jack Calver (Sam Clifton 46), Tom Cavanagh (Harry Blows 77), Jordan Bentley, Aaron Bentley, Olly Redd, Ben Fowles, Kai Burrell, Tallan Mitchell (Joe Cook 86), Cam Hutchison (Teigan Rosenquest 62).

Sub not used: Mac Dewsnsp (gk).

Goals: Olly Redd (5 mins), Tallan Mitchell (54), Kai Burrell (89).

Yellow cards: Kai Burrell (68 & 89).

Red card: Kai Burrell (89, 2nd yellow).

Tavistock: Dan Holman, Reece Shanley, Rhys Lindsell, Callam Watson, Sam Hillson, Shane White, Gene Price, Ryan Smith, Deacon Thomson, Tom Chastey (Chris McPhee 77), Jack Crago (Daniel Udo 77).

Subs: Sam Gleeson, Owen Lauderdale, Kian Burch.

Goals: Tom Chastey (45+1), Shane White (59), Dan Holman (90+7).

Yellow card: Deacon Thomson (19).

Referee: Andrew Barnett.

Attendance: 185.

Men of the Match. St Blazey – Ben Fowles; Tavistock – Shane White.