TIVVY ARCHIVE

Tiverton Town 3 - 1 Exmouth Town

Just a day after a gruelling and successful playoff victory at Salisbury, Tiverton were back at it, attempting to round out a hugely successful season in style. The chance to proclaim themselves champions of the county had been an afterthought in the six weeks since the Yellows edged past Plymouth Parkway at the semi-final stage, but as the final game of the campaign, the match was now able to take on an element of importance. Ten of the eleven who started the match against Parkway were in the starting line-up against Exmouth at Coach Road, although more significantly eight of those had also started the game the day before at Salisbury. It was therefore entirely feasible that there may be some heavy legs amongst the Tiverton team with Teigan Rosenquest the only player not to have been involved in Wiltshire. Of debatably equal significance was the unavailability of goalkeeper Joe Perry, meaning wingback Nick Hurst took the gloves; the other changes from the playoff victory seeing Rosenquest and Ben Carter in for Scott Rogers and Tom Bath.

If tiredness was to be a factor in the long run, it doesn’t excuse the sluggish start to the game made by Tivvy. After just 54 seconds Exmouth were ahead when Mike Humpreys’ free kick was only half-cleared, Jamie Dirrane flicked the ball back into the area, and captain Karl Rickard prodded the ball past Hurst from close range. A tough task had become even more tough inside a minute of the game kicking off.

Exmouth were largely in control as the first half progressed, with Hurst saving a speculative shot from Ace High, Nathan Cooper narrowly missing the target, and Humphreys sending a free kick wide of the mark. Dirrane nodded a deep free kick against the outside of Hurst’s left post on 26 minutes, and Luke Durham’s low shot was saved as the Western League side continued to carve out chances, but they were unable to capitalise on their dominance, and their profligacy would eventually see them punished.

Just before the half-hour mark Tiverton finally showed some forward momentum as Jamies Price and Short combined on the right, the latter crossing for Owen Howe to force the first save of the game from Exmouth goalkeeper Jason Matthews. And against the run of play Howe found an equaliser in the 33rd minute when a long free kick from Steve Kingdon fell to him ten yards out, he swivelled and drove the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

There was little further action of note until early in the second half when, back on top, Exmouth came close to regaining the initiative: Durham crossed, Rickard headed, and Hurst did just enough to scramble the ball away. Rickard and Aaron Denny then both had shots that missed the target by narrow margins. Again, the lack of cutting edge that thwarted Exmouth in the first half was present, with Tivvy almost capitalising when Matthews had to get down quickly to thwart Price at his near post. The Yellows were level a couple of minutes later, however, and again Howe was the scorer with another close-range finish after Short’s low cross had been helped goalwards by Tom Gardner.

Exmouth now had to try and reassert their authority, and this time turn chances into goals as they now chased the game. However, Hurst was largely untroubled in the final fifteen minutes, with Durham and Denny both failing to bring the temporary goalkeeper into action with wayward efforts. Tiverton were then able to seal the victory with a couple of minutes left on the clock; Carter slid the ball through to Short, and rather than shooting himself the midfielder played the percentages perfectly, rolled the ball square, and Howe was left with an easy tap-in. It was enough to see Tivvy across the line, and Exmouth’s disappointment was compounded immediately after the restart when Kevin Hill was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Price.

The players may well be tired, and they deserve a break following their exploits over the past few weeks. Four wins and a draw in April saw Town secure a playoff spot; a brilliant win against Taunton was then followed by the unlikely but hugely impressive victory at Salisbury to clinch proimotion back to the Premier Division. To wrap things up with victory in the Devon Cup was a fitting end to a wonderful season. Work will soon begin on assembling a squad with the quality to contend at a higher level, but first… relax!

Tiverton Town: Nick Hurst, Teigan Rosenquest, Jamie Price, Ben Mammola, Steve Kingdon, Tom Gardner, Jamie Short, Michael Landricombe, Owen Howe, Levi Landricombe, Ben Carter
Goals: Howe 33, 72, 88

Exmouth Town: Jason Matthews, Mike Humphreys, George Pannell, Aaron Denny, Jamie Dirrane, Dave Rowe, Nathan Cooper, Karl Rickard, Ace High, Luke Durham, Kevin Hill
Goal: Rickard 1