TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Blakenall 0 - 3 Tiverton Town

Saturday 05/05/2001   Southern League First Division
Nigel Davis

FA Vase hero Scott Rogers came up with a crucial goal on Saturday as Tiverton Town crushed Blakenall 3-0 to win promotion to the Dr Martens League Premier Division. Rogers' second against Blakenall put Tivvy into the comfort zone at last in what was their 15th game in just 29 days.

Town's achievement of finishing in the second promotion spot is all the more remarkable given that their last nine games came in the final two weeks of the season. Rogers, who cracked Tivvy's 1999 winner against Bedlington Terriers at Wembley, was told a week ago that he had a blood clot on a lung. But he fought back to claim the right wing-back berth for the last two games after Steve Winter had pulled a muscle during Tuesday's 7-2 success against Racing Club Warwick.

Town, roared on by 450 fans who pushed Blakenall's season's best crowd from 174 to 495, had to win to be sure of pipping Bilston Town for the second promotion spot behind Hinckley United. With the aid of the slope and the wind, they piled on the pressure to such an extent that it was a full 15 minutes before keeper Paul Edwards touched the ball. And two minutes later, Paul Chenoweth sent over an inswinging corner from the right and the ball squirmed into the net off defender Ronnie Walker's head as Steve Ovens arrived to make sure.

Ovens' 35th-minute wasted opportunity looked costly as Blakenall found the strength to fight back after the break. John Muir blasted wastefully high and wide after tricking Nicky Marker and Edwards had to be at his best to tip over a John Quilt free-kick. But striker Les Palmer ended Blakenall's resistance when he was dismissed 20 minutes from time for kicking out at Steve Daly.

Within five minutes, Town produced the first of two quality goals to sign off with a flourish. Marker broke from defence and found Phil Everett, who picked out Ovens on the edge of the area, the Town player-of-the-year guiding the ball into Rogers' path for a goal to send visiting fans wild. Five minutes from time, Ovens created space on the right and Kevin Nancekivell sidefooted a third.


Tiverton Town: Paul Edwards‚ Scott Rogers‚ Neil Saunders‚ Stuart Smith‚ Nicky Marker (Richard Pears 60)‚ Paul Chenoweth (Dave Toomey 53)‚ Kevin Nancekivell‚ Steve Ovens (Steve Ovens 87)‚ Phil Everett‚ Steve Daly‚ Dave Leonard
Goals: Chenoweth 17, Rogers 75, Nancekivell 82


This report ©2001 Nigel Davis