TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Tiverton Town 4 - 2 Cirencester Town

Wednesday 11/12/2002   Southern League Cup
John Reidy

There are laws and there are laws. Ever since Moses descended from the mountain with his tablets (I get mine from the chemist!)‚ and no doubt even before that momentous event‚ civilisation has been controlled by laws‚ rules and regulations. From those original commandments through to the present day the greater percentage of those decrees have been factual but there is another form. Those theoretical laws. The laws of nature‚ the law of averages‚ sod´s law. None are laws in the same way as ´Thou shalt not kill´‚ but many ring just as true. I don´t know if anyone has ever put a name to it but there must be a law relating to the importance of competitions like the Dr Martens League Cup. For most clubs involved‚ the early stages are considered as relatively trivial matters. A chance to experiment with fringe players‚ serve suspensions‚ give returning injured players an opportunity for match practice. But those opening round games are usually played whilst clubs are still involved the more financially lucrative tournaments such as the FA Cup and FA Trophy. How attitudes appear to change when the dreams of glory in the national competitions have been shattered. Whatever the ´law´ is it suddenly decrees that the Dr Martens Cup is a far more important trophy than it was! Something to do with diminishing chances of putting some silverware in the cabinet? Tivvy´s opponents for this second round tie were Cirencester Town. A Western Division side that last came to Ladysmead two seasons ago‚ they were still revelling in a 4-0 victory over Corinthian Casuals in the Trophy. The prize - a third round tie away to Newport on the Isle of Wight next Tuesday evening. The debate among the sparse crowd before kick of was as to who wanted that reward the least....
We didn´t have to wait even a minute to find out that the visitors were not about to throw the game. Striker Gareth Hopkins sprinted onto a ball through the middle‚ beating the offside trap‚ and bringing a last ditch tackle from Steve Peters who poked the ball away for a corner. The kick came to Andy McCabe who let fly and was robbed by the crossbar. The chance snapped the Yellows into life and they started to move forward convincingly but it was not until the 9th minute that Cirencester´s former Bath City keeper‚ Mark Hervin was called into action to beat away Jamie Mudge´s shot from an acute angle on the right. It was indicative of what was to come. Three minutes later Rob Cousins sent Mudge away again and beating the defence for both speed and skill Jamie sent in a cross that had Hervin stretching to reach Phil Everett´s header. But then totally against the run of play‚ and from only their second worthwhile attack‚ the visitors went in front. Another through ball. The back line of David Steele and Cousins static with arms raised appealing for the offside decision. No whistle‚ and though Cousins chased back‚ Luke Corbett slid the ball past Paul Edwards and into the net. Tivvy‚ familiarly‚ behind and just fourteen minutes gone. Steve Winter was obviously in trouble and was replaced in the 22nd minute by Richard Pears‚ Everett dropping back.
There was no indication of any despondency from the Tiverton players. They continued to enjoy most of the play‚ building from the back‚ moving forward with confidence and finding ways through the Cirencester defence. The visitors looked lively when they did manage to break forward but it happened only occasionally. On the half hour Mudge‚ always causing concern in the Ciren. back line‚ wove his way through but failed to shoot strongly enough to worry Hervin‚ and a couple of minutes later was again put in the clear by a through ball from Rogers but fell foul of the linesman´s flag as it was raised for offside‚; and then had a fierce shot held by the keeper when he was set up by Kevin Nancekivell after a marauding run by Everett. Even Paul Chenoweth was pushing up and hit a shot on the turn that flew wide as Nance slid in but failed to get the contact that would have deflected the ball between the posts. With five minutes of the half remaining Jamie Mudge should have done better when one on one with Hervin. Pears had shown remarkable ball control as he turned neatly in the centre circle to slip the ball forward to Nancekivell. Nance fed the ball wide to Jamie as he burst past the last defender only to blast the ball straight at the advancing Hervin´s legs. For all their chances the Yellows still took the break a goal behind.
The second half started as the first had finished. Tivvy going forward. This time though the outcome was more rewarding. In the 46th minute Mudge embarked on a solo run that left three defenders flat footed and again faced Hervin. This time Jamie controlled his shot and rather than hitting it low where the keeper might block it by spreading himself‚ he lifted the ball past Hervin´s right hand to pull Tivvy level. With the goal came a further increase in the Yellows confidence. They spread the ball around‚ found their men‚ moved into space and played the kind of football we know they can. Hervin was again called into action in the 50th minute as a precise and incisive move involving Everett‚ the ever improving Chris Holloway (just how good will he be when he loses a few more pounds?)‚ Pears and Rogers ended with the keeper being forced to palm Scott´s shot away for a corner. A minute later Tivvy took the lead. Mudge sent Chenoweth on a short run down the right. Chens cut in towards goal‚ took the ball past Hervin and slipped it across the goalmouth for Nancekivell to have the simplest of tap ins. Eight minutes later and the rampant Yellows increased the margin. Cheno to Pears down the right flank. Inch perfect cross to Nancekivell. Kevin had the time and space to control the ball‚ steady himself and blast the ball into the net. Two minutes later Rogers set up a chance that could have seen the hat-trick but Nance could only poke the ball at Hervin. Mudge continued to run the Cirencester defence ragged but the chances were going begging. Until the 75th minute‚ that is. Phil took a throw on the left‚ level with the visitors penalty area. Mudge took the ball‚ turned tightly between two defenders and unleashed a shot that positively wizzed past the keeper to make the scoreline 4-1.
It was all over bar the shouting‚ and a handful of additional chances for Tiverton. Cirencester pulled one back in the dying minutes through substitute Kevin Lee who crashed the ball home in a goalmouth scramble‚ but it is Tivvy that face Newport in the last sixteen. And for all you music aficionado´s out there‚ the possibility of an intriguing duet between Michael Jackson and Justin Haywood in Cirencester shirts failed to materialise. Now‚ where´s that Ferry Timetable..........

Tiverton Town: 1. Paul Edwards‚ 2. Steve Winter‚ 3. Paul Chenoweth, 4. Steve Peters, 5. David Steele, 6.Rob Cousins, 7. Kevin Nancekivell, 8. Chris Holloway, 9. Phil Everett, 10. Scot Rogers, 11. Jamie Mudge.
Subs: 12. Jason Rees (Cousins,74), 14. Nathan Rudge (Mudge,78), 15. Danny Haines, 16. Richard Pears (Winter,22), 17. Martyn Grimshaw.
Cards: Yellow; Winter (19) .

Cirencester Town: 1. Mark Hervin, 2. James Hughes, 3. Dave Hunt, 4. Michael Jackson, 5. Matt McEntelggart, 6. Tony Hopkins, 7. Dean Gilewizc, 8. Matt Dale, 9. Gareth Hopkins, 10. Luke Corbett, 11. Andy McCabe.
Subs: 12. Ben Fitch (Hughes,46), 14. Kevin Lee (Dale,34), 15. Justin Haywood (Guest 89). 16. Not Named, 17. Not named.
Cards: Hopkins (45).

Referee: N Brimming (Bristol).

This report ©2002 John Reidy