Buckland Athletic went 10 points clear at the top of the premier division of the Carlsberg SWPL with a 3-2 win at Cullompton.

With Bodmin Town's game at Dartmouth postponed because of a waterlogged pitch, Tavistock took advantage to move up to third place with a controversial 3-0 win at Penzance.

It was Penzance's first home defeat since a 3-1 reverse to Ivybridge in late August, as the Lambs earned a sixth successive league win.

But the visitors' victory came in controversial circumstances as the Magpies were left incensed by three key decisions by match officials, father and son Graham and James Strout, which undoubtedly had a major bearing on the outcome.

After Glyn Hobbs had given Tavistock a well deserved lead on the half hour, the game burst into life shortly before half-time, as visiting keeper Andy Meeds pulled off a stunning save at full stretch to turn a Ross Pope shot around the right post.

From the resulting corner, Gerens James' header looked to be well over the line, but to the amazement of most inside the ground, the assistant referee, Strout senior failed to signal that the ball had crossed the line.

In the protests that followed, teenage referee James Strout showed home skipper Mark Vercesi a second yellow card for dissent, and the Magpies ended the half with 10 men.

As if that wasn't bad enough for an irate home side, the second half was barely a minute old when the visitors were awarded what looked a soft penalty, as defender Mamsy Sabo was adjudged to have held back Hobbs and Lambs' skipper Will Stringer stepped up to confidently dispatch the spot kick.

But Strout junior caused yet more consternation in the home ranks when Penzance's strong claims for a penalty fell on deaf ears after substitute Richie Rundle's 56th minute shot appeared to strike a Tavistock defender's hand.

And a miserable afternoon for Trevor Mewton's side was compounded five minutes from time when Adam Carter finished off a well worked move involving substitute Mark Conday and Hobbs to give the Lambs their third consecutive victory by a three-goal margin over the hapless Magpies, following their recent 4-1 wins in the Throgmorton Cup and League.

Results: Cullompton 2, Buckland 3; Dartmouth v Bodmin Town (postponed); Liskeard Ath v Launceston (postponed); Penzance 0, Tavistock 3; Saltash 1, Witheridge 2; Torpoint 2, St Blazey 3; Wadebridge 3, Holsworthy 0.

● In Division One West, leaders St Austell missed the chance to go three points clear at the top when they were held 2-2 at home by Dobwalls.

Full scores: 2 Plymstock 3; Foxhole 4, Porthleven 3; Godolphin 5 , Mousehole 0; St Austell 2, Dobwalls 2; Truro City v Millbrook - postponed; Vospers 0, Penryn 1,