The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Newport IOW 1 - 7 Tiverton TownTuesday 17/12/2002 Southern League Cup | John Reidy |
It´s not so long ago that my pre-amble to a Tivvy match report focused on the vagaries of the English Language and the fact that some words had similar meanings whilst there were others that were identically spelt but could have totally different interpretations depending on the context in which they were used. I try to avoid repetition‚ but on this occasion make no apologies for failing; the circumstances justify. There is a slight difference though. On this occasion I concentrate on just one word. Commitment - in its various tenses and forms. I´m not sure whether the those of us that set out on the ´overseas´ expedition to the Isle of Wight for this highly important‚ nay crucially consequential‚ Dr Martens Cup tie were showing our commitment to the Yellows or indicating that perhaps we were ripe for commitment to the ´nut house´. Some of us have frequently joked that ´we must be mad´ to undertake some of the journeys that we make to support our team but in view of the relevance of the game‚ this outing must be the craziest undertaken in the cause. A mid week evening trip involving several hundred miles driving‚ a ferry crossing‚ not to mention the expense - yes‚ I think we probably should be committed. But ´hey ho´‚ the inmates would be happy if there was a win to celebrate and at least we´d be able to tell our grandchildren (those of us that have any) "I was there"‚ - as if they´d care! Our last‚ and only‚ previous visit to the Island had been on a sweltering hot Bank Holiday weekend. Town had suffered their first defeat in the Dr Martens Premier Division - emphatically thumped 0-3 as their hosts celebrated their first ever win in the division. No heatwave this time‚ and hopefully a change in result as well as climate. The first goalmouth action was at the Tiverton end. A long cross from the right had Paul Edwards under enough pressure to force him to punch clear but from then on it was the white shirted Devonians that pulled the strings. There was just one change from the starting line up that had demolished Hastings at the weekend‚ Jason Rees replacing Steve Peters who was struggling with a knee injury. It was a direct swop leaving Rees and Rob Cousins sharing the sweeping role with each prompting forward into midfield as play dictated‚ and allowing Kevin Nancekivell to push forward behind the front two as Scott Rogers and the excellent Chris Holloway sewed up midfield. It is an attacking formation and one that suits Nance to a tee‚ and in the fourth minute the validity of the tactic was proven as Nance carried the ball into the Newport penalty area‚ was forced wide‚ and then fouled as he threatened to break back in along the goal line. The kick was too far forward for Rees in his sweeper role to become involved with so Paul Chenoweth took it and sent in a curling ball (spherical‚ actually) that beat forwards‚ defenders and goalkeeper alike‚ to fly inches past the far upright. The goal kick gave the Islanders the ball and they kept it for all of two minutes‚ pressing forward until they almost reached the Tivvy penalty area where the pressure eased as Town regained it. There were a few moments of de-ja-vu as the back line passed the ball back and forth across the front of their own penalty area. Left into middle‚ middle out to right‚ right into middle. but unlike in the days of Tatts and Marker‚ it didn´t look risky as those involved looked so comfortable. Then‚ having crossed the field twice and only advanced half a dozen yards‚ all the time drawing the Newport players forward‚ the ball was suddenly pushed forward down the right flank gaining fifty yards before being swiftly laid back into the middle and into the path of Kevin Nancekivell charging through on the blind side of his marker. Kev kept going‚ ball at his feet for another couple of yards before thumping it under McCormack to give Tivvy a 9th minute lead. Newport tried to come back and with a concerted effort won a corner. A dangerous inswinger had Eddy again having to use his fists and though the punched ball fell to a home foot it was blasted high over the top. Off went Town again‚ carving their way trough midfield to mount another wave of attacks. Pears lifted a ball through to Jamie Mudge who skewed his shot wide; Rogers lobbed one through that Pears hit first time‚ but weakly; a right wing cross from Pears found Nance who laid it over for Cheno who had the ball poked away for a corner just as he lined up a thunderbolt; and Jamie was robbed by the spreading legs of McCormack as the stranded goalkeeper found himself exposed by the lack of support. It was one way traffic. There was a pause in the flow for a moment as the home side hoisted a 35 yard free kick inches above the Tivvy crossbar‚ then once again the tide flowed. Pears went close with a couple of efforts‚ Jamie had McCormack stretching high to hold‚ but despite the chances there was only the single goal to show as the half time whistle blew. Within a minute of the restart it became clear that there was going to be no major change in the shape of the game. Mudge bursting through onto a long‚ perfectly placed clearance from Rob Cousins‚ ebbed past two defenders but was once more denied by the keeper´s outstretched foot. Newport mounted a rare attack in reply and Cousins had to be accurate to swing a boot to hoof away the resulting cross as it beat Edwards. Mudge did all the work on a foray down the left only to put his effort to waste as his low cross fell behind the advancing Pears and was touched away for a corner by a retreating defender. Then‚ strangely‚ the game as a spectacle fell apart for about ten minutes. Maybe it was as a result of the vocals coming from the home bench‚ but Newport threw everything into an effort to gain control of the middle of the park. That involved pulling the lonely and mainly ineffectual forwards back‚ pushing a couple of defenders forward and hoping to gain the upper hand by sheer weight of numbers. Well‚ it worked to a degree as they swamped the midfield and broke Tivvy´s stranglehold. It was not a pretty sight. A Newport goal kick with 15 players in the centre circle. Definitely schoolboy stuff. It took a while but eventually the Tiverton players began to spread into the gaps and as they pulled the home players with them so the Devon men regained the initiative and re-ignited the contest. The fuse smouldered for a minute or two before the spark hit the powder and Town exploded in the 62nd minute. I´m sure you´ll forgive me if I fail to give a kick by kick description of the next twenty devastating minutes - I had severe difficulty in keeping up. The explosion began‚ not as expected with a piercing move by Town‚ but with a weak and misdirected goal kick from the tired and overworked Newport keeper. Right down the middle and plumb to the head of Richard Pears, who feet planted firmly on the slime, squarely sent it back in the direction from whence it came, with Jamie Mudge in rapid pursuit. Jamie caught the ball a dozen yards short of the penalty area, headed straight for the stranded McCormack and hammered the ball under the unfortunate keeper before he had a chance to hit the deck as he tried to close down the young firebrand. 62 mins, 0-2. Newport kick off, Tivvy regain possession and swarm forward. Goalmouth melee with ball coming back out to Scott Rogers (I think - it was very crowded!). Fierce drive towards bottom right hand corner. Keeper and defender down in a heap at the foot of the post and ball deflected for corner. But, the flag was up. Consultation time for the men in black and the outcome a penalty for Town and a yellow card for Adam Barsdell who had apparently used an illegitimate part of his anatomy to divert the ball past the upright. Convincing drive from the spot by Scott. 64 mins, 0-3. A lull. Two long range efforts by Newport just to check that Paul Edwards was not dreaming of a White Christmas. Then the best goal of the evening. Steve Ovens, who had replaced Kevin Nancekivell (knocked knee) after 21 minutes and had played deeper than his normal role, set out on a run down the right. Faced with two defenders, nothing new for Steve there, he cut in field and flighted a cross to the hear of Pears just beyond the far post. Richard rose to head the ball down and back to Jamie Mudge edging forwards towards the penalty spot. It fell perfectly and Jamie thumped it soundly past McCormack et al. 71 mins, 0-4. Four minutes later, Jamie´s now almost traditional solo display as he burst through the middle, swayed past the sole defender within reach and slid the ball under the thoroughly dis- spirited keeper to complete the first treble strike by a Tiverton player this season. 75 mins, 0-5. The next one came quickly (?). Rogers to Ovens to Rogers. Centre circle to penalty area. Bang from Scott. 78 mins 0-6. More goalmouth action with the ball bobbling about begging for the safety of the net. Two boots ready to grant its wish. Scott trying to complete his hat-trick but failing to do so as Pearsy gets a touch before ´Spiceboy´ can reach it. 80 mins. 0-7. My pen runs out and Tivvy oblige by laying off whilst I dig for a replacement. The other occupants of the ´Press Box´, all locals (What? No Gazette? dig -dig!), enter into memory lane about other humiliating defeats in the club´s history going back as far as 1932... I find another pen just in time to record Newport sub Chris Bridges lifting the ball forward in the 85th minute and Ashley Wright nipping in to lob a speculative effort over Eddy that just drops under the crossbar to cause decidedly muted celebration from the handful of remaining home fans. The last chance of the evening fell to Steve Ovens who slid a shot wide in the final minute. The referee added no time. Wise man. There was a ferry to catch. In his programme notes, Newport manager Steve Tate welcomed the chance of playing a Premier status side as a yardstick by which to judge how far his squad had progressed - only the ageing Guy Wittingham (who scored twice) remains from the side that won on Town´s first visit to the Island 16 months ago. After the match he thanked Martyn Rogers for the lesson. That say´s it all. So, at the end of the day - and into the start of the next one - we were four very happy bunnies making our way back to the mainland and Devon. No paddling on the slipway as we waited to reboard the ferry back to the mainland but at least when we arrived home we were able to retire to our beds with silly grins, relaxed in the knowledge that if we were committed, then at least there was a chance that in line with current practice we would probably not be classed as a danger to society and would therefore be released under a ´care in the community´ scheme. That would permit us to get down to Ladysmead for the forthcoming games that have far greater significance. Finally, my thanks are due to Kerry and Margaret O´Connor, without who this and other recent excursions would not have been possible; and to Lynne for sharing the back seat and my passion - for Tivvy, that is. Tiverton Town: Paul Edwards, Phil Everett, Paul Chenoweth, Jason Rees, Nathan Rudge, Rob Cousins, Kevin Nancekivell, Chris Holloway, Richard Pears Scott Rogers, Jamie Mudge. Subs: S Ovens (Nancekivell,21), M Grimshaw, Steve Peters Cards: Rudge (30). Newport: Joe McCormack, Leigh Cole, Adam Lang, Guy Whittingham, Pete Tagg, Simon Pilcher, Gareth Keeping, Danny Rofe, Jamie O´Rourke, Ashley Wright, Adam Barsdell. Subs: Steve Tate, Mark Issacson. Alex Perry (Keeping,87), Pual O´Connor (Lang,64), Chris Bridges (O´Rourke,76), Cards: Lang (38), Barsdell (63), Pilcher (73). Referee: Mr. C. L. Hayes (Surrey). |
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