The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Tiverton Town 2 - 1 Exeter CityFriday 01/07/2022 Friendly | Tivvy Archive |
Early pre-season matches seldom conjure stand-out moments or stand-out performances and serve more as an exercise in building fitness and familiarity amongst players, and as an opportunity for the management to assess character and attitude. As such Exeter manager Matt Taylor will not be too concerned with his side’s defeat, and similarly Scott Rogers is unlikely to be shouting from the rooftops after witnessing his Tiverton team edge to a 2-1 victory at Ladysmead. The first thing to note was that Tivvy lined up with three at the back. This will not come as too much of a surprise to those who watched the gradual flow of summer signings: there was a point where the Yellows had confirmed ten outfield players and they would really only fit into a 3-5-2 system, even allowing for a little artistic licence. So, the fact that Craig Woodman started Friday’s match not on the left of the three at the back, but as a deep-lying central midfielder was somewhat surprising; it was as if Rogers was attempting to recreate the central hub of experience and nous that Pete Conning brought to the successful Tiverton teams of yore. Sadly, the experiment lasted only 25 minutes before Woodman left the game, presumably with a knock, but maybe through the embarrassment of lamely conceding possession a handful of seconds earlier. Josh Jones played a strong game on the right of the back three and showed the promise of a defender that will not get beaten often in aerial duals. His mobility is not the best, down to the sheer size of the man, and he reminded me somewhat of Mike Walker, who played briefly for the Yellows before excelling on the south coast with Poole Town. With Jamie Richards alongside, and Kai Fisher still to return from his summer break, there are signs that Tiverton will be a physically strong unit at the back, and the set-piece defending woes that has plagued the team for as many years as I can remember may well be coming to an end. Jordan Lam and Joe O’Loughlin filled the wingbacks roles initially (when Woodman ended his evening early a reshuffle saw Lam move into midfield with Joe Belsten off the bench and onto the right side). O’Loughlin was decent enough and would be more of an attacking threat against opposition of a similar level to Tiverton but was often restricted in his advances against the professionals. He did capitalise in the second half with a low strike for the second goal of the game during a phase where the Exeter team contained less experience, and he should be happy enough with his efforts. Lam, on the right, underlined his importance to the squad with his versatility and was the primary outlet early in the game on the occasions Town played forward rather than launched forward. Exactly where on the pitch he will play most of his football in the coming season will likely remain a mystery, and maybe depends on the form and fitness of others, but he is certainly a safe and reliable option in just about any position. In the midfield, with Woodman/Lam and the known quantity of Louis Morison was Tom Purrington. His start to the game was cautious and it wasn’t until the reshuffle midway through the first half that he began to look at ease. He role changed subtly from box-to-box into holding midfielder, and it was from the deeper position that he was allowed to break from his own half to lash Tivvy into the lead just after half time. It is too early to say he is the perfect replacement from the brilliant Dan Hayfield, but it was a solid 7/10 performance capped with a goal, so there can be no complaints. It was all new up top with Lucas Vowles offering the movement and willingness to run into channels, look for through balls, and try to stretch the defence. His work rate may well have gone unnoticed in large periods as he was required often to feed of very little, but he kept working throughout the evening and offered glimpses of skill and close control. Much like O’Loughlin, he will certainly be a player more involved and more potent against Southern League opposition, but he came through a very testing game with a decent amount of credit. The unquestionable star of the show from a Tiverton perspective was Niall Thompson. Strong, quick, determined and skilful, Thompson shone brightest with his absolute refusal to be second best in any tussle he was involved in. Not only was he a real threat with the ball at his feet, but his hold-up play was immaculate when asked to reel in long balls from deep, and if and when he lost possession or was beaten to the first ball, he was sure to hustle, harry and either win it back or force his opponent to rush a clearance. Scott Rogers noted in his introduction when announcing Thompson’s signing that he had played wide and even as a full back for Truro, and it was the intention to use him in a more attacking role: it was evident on Thompson’s showing that he will be a huge benefit in the font line at Ladysmead, be that as part of a two or a three. From the selection of substitutes, the brightest spark was clearly Dylan Jones, who came on to play in behind the font two, and very nearly grabbed a goal only for a shot at the end of a weaving run to clatter against the outside of the post. Isaac McCue barely had time to work up a sweat as a late entrant to the game; Ollie Saunders played 20 minutes or so in goal without being extended much; and Gary Warren is still around for the time being ahead of his move to the Highlands. The match action itself is not particularly important, but for the record Tivvy scored twice early in the second half through Purrington and then O’Loughlin. Between these goals Exeter cracked the crossbar, and after the second hit the woodwork again. Morison curled a free kick that was pushed wide, having earlier dinked a free kick that evaded everyone in the goal area, O’Loughlin fizzed a powerful shot just over the crossbar in the first half after good work from Lam, and there was the usual array of scuffed or excessively optimistic efforts from distance. Exeter scored with the final action through Jevani Brown as he converted from Matt Jay's cross. All in all, it was decent enough viewing, with the eternal Spring of hope that accompanies early pre-season games present. Tiverton Town: Arthur (Saunders 62), Lam (D Jones 62), O’Loughlin, Down (Warren 62), Richards, J Jones, Morison, Purrington (Adams 66), Vowles (McCue 84), Thompson, Woodman (Belsten 24) Exeter City (0-31): Lee, Key, King, Pond, Hartridge, Iseguan, Billington, Borges, Dieng, Cox, Nombe Attendance: 1128 |
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