TIVVY ARCHIVE

Eastbourne Borough 2 - 1 Tiverton Town

Tiverton’s forays into the depths of the FA Trophy have been rare, but having overcome Swindon Supermarine and then high-flying Bracknell Town, there were no fears as the Yellows headed to National League South side Eastbourne Borough. In a mirroring of their only previous visit, the high and powerful winds would play a factor (although no goal kicks were blown out for corners this time), and with progression and cash on the line, the week of rest allowed Tivvy to prepare nicely. Theo Simpson returned to the squad – and to the pitch late in the game – and Matt Wright started in the only change to the starting side that held Hayes & Yeading a week earlier, with Chris Shephard missing out.

In blustery conditions not at all conducive to free-flowing football, Tivvy carved out the first opening on seventeen minutes, but Lee Worgan was able to save comfortably from Jordan Lam. By that stage Borough already had one man in the referee’s notebook as Charlie Walker was penalised for a foul on Louis Morrison, but the game was far from fractious in that sense, and the challenge for both teams remained not only in the toe-to-toe encounters, but equally as a battle against the elements. The same combination of Lam and Worgan contributed towards the same outcome just before the half-hour mark, and Eastbourne finally had a sight at goal a minute later, with Lewis Williams in the Tivvy goal able to bat away Greg Luer’s effort.

The match was in stark contrast to the last outing for the Yellows a week earlier against Hayes, with quality at a premium from both sides, although Lam was certainly looking sprightly, and Tivvy felt they should have been awarded a penalty when the winger tangled with Steven James, but the referee waved play on, so play on they all did, as far as was possible as the wind persisted across the south coast. The hosts were able to progressively come to terms with the inclemency as the half wore on, with Williams again forced to save, this time bravely at the feet of Charley Kendall, and Eastbourne nosed ahead a couple of minutes before the interval when captain Walker tapped in following good work from Jack Currie and then Kendall.

Joel Rollinson saw his shot saved and Kendall headed wide as Eastbourne started the second have assertively, with Rollinson then have two further chances, the first of which he should have buried but put wide, the second thwarted by the close attentions of Aaron Dawson. Tivvy had their backs to the wall as Borough’s Divisional advantage was played out on the pitch, so it was no surprise whan Walker double the home side’s advantage midway through the second half. Kendall’s break and effort was initially kept out by a combination of Williams and Dawson, but with presence of mind intact Kendall set up Walker to lash the ball high into the net, and seemingly secure Eastbourne’s passage through to the next round.

By this stage Tiverton had made a couple of changes, with Joe Belsten and Theo Simpson brought into the action in place of Matt Wright and Nelson Iseguan, and there was little else they could do tactically with regards to substitutes, with realistically only Alex Moyes now available. And indeed, Moyse was brought on for Dawson in a like-for-like change with twenty minutes remaining. While the change itself didn’t have a direct effect, Tivvy were able to pull one back almost immediately through Dan Hayfield who volleyed Lam’s cross past Worgan. Just like that the balance shifted in favour of the Yellows, and don’t let anyone tell you football is not a game of psychology! Simpson’s direct and bustling style was impactful, albeit without the end result, and for a while it looked as if Eastbourne were holding on desperately. Trent Mahord deflected a Hayfield shot wide as Town’s momentum increased in the last throes, but ultimately the equaliser proved to be a step out of reach.

Eastbourne Borough: Lee Worgan, Jake Elliott, Jack Currie, Steven James, Joel Rollinson (James Beresford 84), James Hammond, Greg Luer, Charlie Walker, Charlie Towning, Trent Mahorn, Charley Kendall (Charlie Lambert 90)
Goals: Walker 42, 66
Booked: Walker
Sent off: None

Tiverton Town: Lewis Williams, Kyle Egan, Craig Woodman, Aaron Dawson, Gary Warren, Alfie Pond, Louis Morison, Dan Hayfield, Matt Wright (Theo Simpson 63), Jordan Lam, Nelson Iseguan (Joe Belsten 63)
Goal: Hayfield 74
Booked: Morison
Sent off: None

Attendance: 298