TIVVY ARCHIVE

Weymouth 2 - 1 Tiverton Town

The worrying signs are there for all to see as the latest Yellows defeat now sees them occupy 16th place in the league standings and just two points currently separate them and Chesham United in 20th and a place amongst the seasons relegation places. That said though, in the two fixtures away to the top two sides, the Yellows have only lost by the odd goal in three so they are clearly not a million miles away from getting it right. In the latest narrow defeat, a Jamie Price goal, his third of the season, ten minutes from time proved to be nothing more than a consolation as high-flying Weymouth took a two goal lead, Ben Thomson heading home in first half stoppage time and Josh Wakefield fired home after a defensive mix up just after the hour mark before Price sparked hopes of a comeback, but battle and try as the Yellows did, they again came up short.

With the squad stripped to the bare bones by illness, injury and suspension, there were just twelve fit players at kick off. Josh Key and Lewis Tasker (illness) and Harrison Davis (suspension) were missing and while Tom Bath (foot injury) was named among the substitutes, he was in no fit state to make an appearance and matters were made worse just four minutes in, Tom Gardner was replaced by Scott Rogers, Gardner eventually confirmed as having broken his wrist and the veteran defender, who is closing in on his 600th Tiverton appearance, will doubtlessly have an extended spell on the side-lines.

Amongst the travelling support, with a twelve place and fourteen point gap in the league standing between the two sides before kick-off, the fear of another defeat was looming large but had the sides gone in level, at full time let alone at half time, it would have been no unfair reflection on what had gone before. The Yellows were not without their own chances to open the scoring, former Weymouth striker Stewart Yettons shot was deflected wide after Levi Landricombe had played him in while at the other end eventual Man of the Match Liam Armstrong was not unduly troubled as the half drew to a close and a superb save down to his left from Odubade seemed to ensure parity at the interval, only for the hosts to pile on the pressure from the resulting corner and eventually a looping header from Thomson on the end of a Jordan Ngalo cross opened the scoring barely sixty seconds before the half time whistle was blown.

Eventually, after more periods of Tiverton pressure, the hosts took a firm grip on the match and with their first effort on target in the second half they doubled their lead as a goal mouth scramble was only partially cleared and Josh Wakefield slammed home from the edge of the area. Again, the Yellows went in search of a way back in to the match and a Michael Landricombe through ball towards brother Levi was only fractionally overhit before Price set up a grandstand final ten minutes with his goal. Max Smallcombe, who had had his loan extended from Exeter City until the end of the season, drifted a free kick towards the Weymouth penalty area from halfway, Weymouth keeper Lloyd Thomas spilled his catch and Price lobbed in to the unguarded net from 18 yards but despite the best efforts in the minutes that remained, Weymouth held on for all three points and with Taunton dropping points at home, the hosts narrowed the gap to four points on the league leaders.

Tiverton Town: Liam Armstrong, Isaac Furness, Callum Hall, Jamie Price, Ben Mammola, Tom Gardner (Scott Rogers 4), Max Smallcombe, Steve Colwell, Stewart Yetton, Levi Landricombe, Michael Landricombe
Goal: Jamie Price 80

Attendance: 769