Taverners gained an important victory in their basement battle with Ellwood. The opening exchanges were even but it was the visitors who settled the better of the two sides. The foresters were prepared to get the ball forward quickly and began to cause the home rearguard problems and on 24 minutes they went ahead when a long searching ball played in the willing run of Julian Addis who checked and turned inside Rich Davies but his effort on goal was brilliantly saved by Duane Portlock with the ball breaking to the supporting Alan Williams who controlled and calmly tucked away the ball. Tavs began to exert some pressure as the half came to a close and a great chance fell to Mark Harsant but his effort was diverted for a disputed corner. Tom Hanley's corner was keenly contested and was only partially cleared to the waiting Mike Thornton who lashed the ball in from twelve yards giving Lee Barnard no chance in the Ellwood goal.

The home side made a change at the break bringing on Craig Mills to anchor their midfield and pushed Hanley into an attacking role and went on to enjoy good spells throughout the second period. When Barnard made a hash of a back pass, Harsant closed down only to see Barnard redeem himself with a superb save at the expense of a corner. From the resulting corner Harsant acrobatically fired just over as Tavs began to get closer to the breakthrough which arrived in the 70th minute when a good move down their right flank resulted in Bish playing in Hanley who calmly stroked the ball into Barnards bottom left hand corner. Tavs continued to enjoy the upper hand until the final few minutes when the foresters exerted a little pressure but found no way of breaking a resolute Tavs rearguard who held on comfortably to deservedly take the three points with Chris Preece their man of the match.

This Saturday Tavs are at home again to AXA KO 2pm.