‘Dire concentration’ costs Bovey Tracey AFC once more

BOVEY Tracey AFC manager Ben Gerring cited the “dire concentration” of his team as the leading cause for their latest Western League defeat.

There was plenty to unpick from his scathing post-match review of the home loss against Tavistock AFC on Tuesday, September 8.

He labelled the visitors as “worthy winners” before adding: “Until we grow up and learn the arts of the game and how to stay in games, we’re going to struggle.”

The balance of play favoured the Lambs in the first half of this matchup of Moorlanders but it was Bovey who grasped a lead.

A minor talking point saw Tavistock skipper Shane White carded with Stuart Bowker rolling around having been stood on.

Tavistock boasted some really impressive movement and passages of play early on without really threatening Andy Collings in the Bovey goal.

It was the set-piece opportunities that somewhat rattled the Bovey cage though, as highlighted by Gerring: “We switch off from dead balls, whether that’s a goal-kick down the middle or restarts from kick-offs, throw-ins and corners too, we are conceding at will.”

Their best chance from one of these was cleared off the line by fullback Josh Searle and then at the other end, Bovey made a rare yet decisive foray within 18 yards of the Tavistock goal.

Josh Webber fired the ball into Bowker’s feet and the forward used his know-how to turn away from the marker and strike the hosts ahead, Oscar Noone getting a hand to it but only pushing it further into the side netting.

One moment that was cheered nearly as much as the goal was a superb block and then subsequent sliding tackle from Harvey Coggins on Deacon Thomson, the continuation of a really intriguing battle on the night.

At the turnaround, Bovey had an advantage to hold onto but their resolve was as brittle as possible.

With supporters still returning to their positions and with mere seconds on the clock for the second-half, Gene Price’s effort deflected beyond Collins to restore parity at the Western Counties Roofing Ground.

Tavistock went close twice more with Bovey still rocking and then a late lunging tackle earned Louie Roberts a first card of the game for the team in red.

The Lambs made their moment count as good work from Ryan Smith set Kian Burch on his way who strode through on goal before being felled by Collins in the area.

It wasn’t from this penalty that they edged ahead though as White ballooned his attempt way over the crossbar.

Instead, Steve Tully made a double change and substitute Tom Chastey combined with Price in the buildup to a go-ahead goal from Smith. Him being a former Buckland Athletic player simply adds further fuel to the fire.

Looking to regain a foothold in the game, Gerring also turned to his bench, sending on Jadore Lawson and Ollie Aplin for Rudi McKinnon and Bowker.

Discipline has been a concern for Bovey since moving up to step five and that was the case once more against Tavistock, experienced head Lewis Perring earning himself a seat in the sin-bin due to something he said to the linesman.

Bovey were able to hang on despite being a man light and they could have made it 2-2 had Lawson’s long-throw fallen to someone other than centre-half Coggins.

Tavistock’s energy started to shine through against the tired legs of Bovey as the evening wore on and after a half-hearted penalty appeal at one end, the fresh legs of Chastey were able to drive away on the counter and bury a decisive third goal for Tully and co.

Speaking after the final whistle, Ben Gerring said: “I was proud that we got into half-time in the lead, we defended really well and I gave them a lot of credit.

“We’ve come out for the second half and that was just a shadow of the Bovey team I know.

“By the time I’ve even got to my seat, it’s 1-1, it’s 60 seconds. Then that’s not enough for us, we want to chuck a sin-bin in there as well.

“I’ve seen a lot from 10 games at this level and we’re very inexperienced. We need to grow up very very quickly, I’ve just said that to them.”

He also heaped the praise on the victors: “I thought that was a very good Tavistock team. They started better than us and dominated in every area.”

On the flipside, Tully labelled Bovey as “a hard team to play against at home” whilst adding: “I think 3-1 flatters them, we had numerous chances and it could have been five or six.”

Gerring’s men have the weekend off now before they visit Liskeard Athletic (the first of four straight games on the road), who were promoted out of the SW Peninsula League alongside them, on Tuesday, September 15.

This window leaves a clear plan for the Moorlanders moving forward: “We’ll be back training Friday for a good two hours and that’s what we’re going to be working on now. Restarts and getting us through simple corners, simple goal-kicks and winning those first contacts.”

He deems this necessary based on his initial assessment of the defeat and other recent outings.

“We are getting undone with naivety and stupidity. I don’t think we defend our box with anywhere near enough aggression,” said Gerring.

He continued: “I watch the games back and my eyes don’t lie. In our box, I’m not confident that we’re going to win first contacts, I’m not confident that we’re sensing where the ball might land and that we’re going to be there first. In the opposite box, we’re not on the move enough.

“It’s not a quality issue because we’ve got quality throughout our team, our lack in concentration and dealing with balls coming into our box is just not good enough for this level.”

After the Liskeard clash, Bovey will head to Brislington FC (Saturday 19), Torquay United (Wednesday 23, St Luke’s Challenge Cup) and then Clevedon Town (Saturday 26).