TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Tiverton Town 3 - 0 Bromsgrove Rovers

Monday 22/12/2003   Southern League Cup
John Reidy

As a young child‚ well before my interest in football had taken a firm grip‚ my Saturday afternoons were planned on my behalf. Rarely was there change to the schedule that included an early-ish rise‚ a trip into the city with Mother‚ then later‚ after lunch‚ the visit to Grandma. While Mother and daughter caught up on the week´s gossip I would entertain myself as best I could. Then‚ as the time to return home arrived‚ I would predictably request ‘something for the way home´. That was the phrase I always used - what I was after was some biscuits‚ a fairy cake‚ or something of that nature‚ after all it was approaching ‘tea-time´. Typical of a four year old perhaps‚ yet although I wanted that ‘something for the way home´‚ I knew that it wouldn´t do me any good. I suffered from chronic travel sickness in those days‚ and even the sight of a car made my stomach churn. There were times that I had to force myself to polish off a caramel wafer bar‚ and suffered as a result on the short bus journey home. I wanted it‚ but not really that much. The Dr Martens League Cup is a competition that few Premier Division teams set their early season sights on‚ but following the ignominy of defeats to lower league opposition in the FA competitions‚ the League Cup was all that remained for Tiverton in knock-out football. So it was that‚ although they‚ at one point anyway‚ weren´t really that bothered‚ Tiverton found that progression was a must‚ and following a stuttering opening period‚ they brushed aside Bromsgrove Rovers in a relatively impressive performance.

For the first time in a number of weeks Tiverton were able to select a reasonably first choice line-up‚ with all but one of the 11 players in their familiar positions. Carl Cliff-Brown started his second match for the Yellows following his impressive debut two days earlier‚ partnering Steve Ovens this time‚ and Jason Rees and Paul Chenoweth returned to the fold having completed suspension periods. And with a more familiar system‚ it was perhaps a little surprising that it was the visitors who made the early running. From the first whistle‚ and the five minutes or so that followed‚ Bromsgrove attacked‚ but their determination and eagerness proved futile as Stuart Fraser was not called upon to extend himself. Rees‚ Milsom and Steele had matters in hand‚ ably supported by the wider positioned Goff and Winter‚ and as Tivvy came to terms with Rovers so they were able to venture forward themselves. Simon Bryant shot high‚ wide and handsome from Tiverton´s first attack‚ and two minutes later Cliff-Brown headed directly at Ian Gandy with a little less impetus than Sir Clive Sinclair´s C5. The balance of power may have shifted‚ but the goalscoring chances were few and far between as the first half became little more than a midfield battle‚ with the odd break from deep. Inevitably it was the Yellows that were the team breaking‚ and equally inevitably it was the last touch‚ sometimes even the penultimate touch that was lacking. Approaching the mid point of the first half and there was cause for concern on the Tiverton bench as Fraser pulled up in obvious discomfort‚ having cleared a backpass. The shotstopper played through the pain barrier for some five minutes before being replaced by the evergreen Ian Nott‚ turning out for Tivvy for the first time since 1994. Busy he was not (rather than busy, he was, Nott), as the match continued in similar fashion, and for long period there was little to bother either ‘keeper, either defence, or either set of management. Tiverton contained the Midlands outfit without too much cause for concern, and yet never found top gear, merely waiting for chances to present themselves rather than going out of their way to create them.
It took until five minutes before the interval for the first genuine chance of the game to present itself. Winter sent Cliff-Brown on his way with an exquisite threaded pass, but Gandy was a match for Tivvy´s temporary striker as he spread himself to block, then grabbed the ball at the second attempt. At the other end, as the first half entered stoppage time, Rees fluffed a clearance, allowing Richard Tomkins a sight of goal, and the Rovers player did everything right except add the necessary power. He slid the ball beneath Nott, and goalwards, but Rees recovered to clear and make amends for his error. Tiverton then had the final say before the break as Ovens scampered away down the left and was upended as he made his way. While the Bromsgrove players pleaded their innocence so Chenoweth got on with his job, floating the free-kick into the area, and an unmarked Kevin Nancekivell. The Tivvy number seven looped his header over the flat footed Gandy and into the far corner of the net, giving Town a deserved, if uninspired half-time lead.

The match resumed, and mirrored almost exactly the first half as Bromsgrove hit the floor running, but again their liveliness lacked control and the Tiverton defence soaked up the pressure from the refreshed legs of the Midlanders. When Ovens scuffed his shot three minutes after the restart there were signs that in the second half the entertainment value would rise to a new level, and this belief was added to shortly afterwards when Nott failed to hold a Rovers corner and the ensuing scramble was eventually dealt with, a yellow socked leg hacking the ball to safety. Ten minutes in and Tiverton doubled their lead in an increasingly familiar manner. Town pressure led to Rovers conceding a free kick just right of centre, and just outside the penalty area. Rees, Winter and Chenoweth stood over the ball as the visitors lined up the defensive wall. Chens touched to Rees, Rees to Winter, feigned shot, back to the retreating Chenoweth, bang! For the fourth time this season the partypiece set play had delivered for Town, and at 2-0 there was only going to be one winner from here. Indeed, Tiverton upped their game, passed the ball quickly and efficiently, and made the Bromsgrove players chase and charge just to retain some balance in proceedings. On the hour, if there was any doubt, the game was wrapped up with Nancekivell grabbing his second and Tivvy´s third of the match. Steve Ovens, quiet by his tenacious standards, saw his shot deflected out for a corner, then received the ball again from the resultant cross. Again his effort picked up a deflection, this time straight into Nance´s path, and the midfielder had an easy task of slotting the ball home.

The remaining 30 minutes were played almost exclusively in the Bromsgrove half of the pitch as Tiverton rampaged, almost without respite. There was no urgency, just plenty of confidence and self belief as Town exploited and breached the Rovers defence time and again. A brief let-up saw the welcome introduction of Steve Peters in place of Milsom, the defender being given a good 25 minutes to test his legs and help bring him back to match fitness after so long on the sidelines through injury. Understandably, Steve was cautious in his challenges, but as the game was concentrated at the other end of the park for the most part, his main duty was to pick up the hoofed clearances and feed the midfield, which he performed with the assurance and confidence that would be expected from a player of his quality. Jamie Mudge came off the bench in place of Nancekivell to complete Town´s quota of substitutions as the Yellows continued to dominate the closing stages of the match. Ovens spectacularly headed Jamie´s cross over the top, and Mudge himself was in on the shooting practice, but saw his curling 20 yard effort sail agonisingly wide of the upright. Simon Bryant limped off near the end of the game, precautionary, yet even with a player less there was still a one-way pattern to the action. Cliff-Brown, who had dropped deeper since the introduction of Mudge, ventured forward to drive a shot in from wide on the right which was deflected for a corner, Chenoweth, instrumental in everything Tiverton created, drilled a shot wide, and Mudge shot when perhaps Ovens was better placed. Tiverton played exhibition football through to the full-time whistle, and the final 3-0 scoreline reflects accurately the gap between the teams.

Bromsgrove came with a desire, and their effort and commitment was beyond question. They weren´t a bad side but were unfortunate to meet a revitalised Tivvy side that, after a sluggish start, were close to the top of their game. While there will be concern regarding the fitness of two key players, in Fraser and Bryant, there are plenty of positives to take from this game. A third successive shut-out always pleases, as does a second clean sheet of yellow cards; goals are flowing at the right end, and the overall performances of the last two games are enough to fill players, officials and fans alike with plenty of Christmas cheer. While the Dr Martens League Cup is not going to be top of the priority list, assured performances are always desired, and a continuation into the new year will be welcomed with open arms.


Tiverton Town: Stuart Fraser (Ian Nott, 25), Steve Winter, Shaun Goff, Jason Rees, David Steele, Paul Chenoweth, Kevin Nancekivell (James Mudge, 71), Simon Bryant, Carl Cliff-Brown, Paul Milsom (Steve Peters, 65), Steve Ovens
Subs not used: Richard Pears.
Bookings: None

Bromsgrove Rovers: Ian Gandy, Mark Benbow, Chris Dawson (Duncan Smith,78), Steve Frost, Dave Benton, Grant Becket (Tom Nelson, 48), Richard Tomkins (Shaun Maynard, 65), Danny Scheppel, Peter Sutton, Mark Allen, Mark Atkinson.
Subs not used:
Bookings: None

Referee: Mike Hawken (St Austell).

This report ©2003 John Reidy