Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Premier Division

Saltash United 1 Tavistock 5

Saltash United will need to recover quickly for the long trip to Helston on Saturday after being battered on their own pitch by a rampant Tavistock on Wednesday night.

The brittle Ashes were left devastated by a first half onslaught by the reigning champions, who led 4-1 by the break and coasted to victory in the second half.

All the talk so far this season is about which of the Plymouth teams – Parkway or Argyle – will win the premier division title. But as Saltash manager Matt Cusack said afterwards: ‘Anybody wanting to be champions will have to finish above Tavistock.’

Saltash harbour title ambitions of their own, of course, but assistant manager Dane Bunney admitted: ‘We are a million miles away from being one of the top teams at the moment.’

The warning signs of danger ahead started as early as the first minute when defender Dan Evans rose unchallenged to send a glancing header into the net from a left wing corner.

Saltash keeper Ryan Rickard was then forced to make an excellent save from Luke Brown before the Ashes equalised through a Paul Heveran free kick after Sam Hughes was held back by Evans, who was fortunate to be shown only a yellow card.

But Tavistock quickly restored their lead through Brown, who was allowed three opportunities to get a shot in on goal, and obliged with the third.

Tavistock started to look like they would score from every attack and after Rickard made another superb save to deny Brown, the visitors were awarded a 34th minute penalty. Again, Rickard came to Saltash’s rescue by making a fine save.

If they had gone in at half-time only 2-1 down, Saltash would have felt they were still in the game. Unfortunately, four minutes of time added on brought two more Tavistock goals.

Grant volleyed in to make it 3-1 and two minutes later he succeeded from the penalty spot after Sam Leary had naively knocked flying winger Jack Crago over.

The Saltash dressing room was not the place to be at half-time as Cusack and Bunney raised the roof with a tirade of criticism about their players.

But they got a response, which a much better second half display, although Tavistock appeared to be in second gear and strolled towards three points.

To rub salt into the Ashes’ gaping wounds, the visitors added a fifth goal a minute from time with a quality finish from substitute Jake Miller after a sweeping move along the right.

Saltash: R Rickard, D Barker, C Martindale, C O’Brien, S Leary, D Lewis (H Wilson 46), P Heveran, T King, S Hughes (S Coombe 85), R Richards, R Maddison (L Phillips 67). Sub not used: S Sargison.

Goal: P Heveran (20).

Yellow cards: T King (42), C O’Brien (74), H Wilson (83).

Tavistock: J Oak, B Cross, J Robins, D Evans, L Daw, W Daw, L Brown (J Tribble 77), D Hallett (J Miller 72), T Rosenquest, J Grant (T Burgess 84), J Crago. Subs not used: D Sullivan, R Swain.

Goals: D Evans (1), L Brown (25), J Grant (45+2 & 45+4, pen), J Miller (89).

Yellow cards: D Evans (17), W Daw (88).

Referee: Alan Bassett (Plymouth).

Attendance: 225.

Cornish Times Man of the Match: Dave Hallett – excellent midfield contribution for Tavistock.