Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South
Tiverton Town 3 (Parker 8, Swann 20, Wright 86)
Poole Town 1 (De Luca 90)
Saturday, October 26 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium . 3pm
BLUE skies greeted the teams as they arrived at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium for this one. Despite last Saturday's rousing draw, the Yellows started the day in the bottom four of the Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South; Poole, on the other hand, were ten places higher up the table in ninth.
Asa Hall and Niall Thompson, in charge as the search for a permanent managerial appointment gathers pace, will have been fully aware that any lessening of the standards they set against Sholing could result in a difficult afternoon against the Dolphins.
Tor Swann took a starting place at the expense of Kai Churchley; Dylan Jones took a central position in Tiverton’s midfield; and Hall played alongside Josh Jones in the heart of the Yellows’ defence.
The team were quick out of the blocks and Evander Grubb, continuing where he left off from last Saturday, was soon into the action. A first effort with barely two minutes played lacked power and was comfortably handled by Cameron Plain in the Poole goal and, another minute into the game, Grubb tried his luck again with a well executed curler that marginally whistled over the visitors’ crossbar.
The Dolphins demonstrated a good passing game from the outset, though it was Tivvy’s pace and purposeful link-up play that was causing alarm in the visitors’ backline and, on eight minutes, a sliding pass played Joe Parker in on goal and his finely struck effort on the half-volley was only partially saved by Plain, who was in the middle of his area, and the ball carried on into the back of the net, ending a personal minor goal drought for the Yellows’ striker.
There was an urgency to our play and the positive nature of the strong-running Swann and the probing Grubb combined to excellent effect in support of Parker.
For Poole, the classy James McCarthy was showing an excellent range of passing and Harvey Slade was manoeuvring the ball well further up the field. A fast break, though, led to Tiverton extending their lead, Swann taking the ball into his stride and supplying a composed and clinical finish to beat Poole’s ’keeper on 20 minutes.
The Yellows were the livelier of the teams in that opening part of the game, playing at a faster tempo when in possession and working hard when without the ball, the highly-motivated team responding to the promptings of acting coach Thompson and on-field coach Hall. The latter gave his best performance for Tivvy, organising, encouraging and making many telling interceptions from his centre-back berth, using the ball intelligently and winning many headers.
In the 27th minute, the marauding Swann rolled in the the overlapping and accelerating Dylan Jones. Reaching the edge of the area he screwed his shot just wide of the target.
Down the other end, the Dolphins were growing into the game, with the influential McCarthy giving a passing masterclass.
The Yellows were opened up, but a rifled shot was parried by the intensely observant Zak Baker. This started a period of pressure from the side who play their football at the Blackgold Stadium, the focus of Tivvy’s players stifling the visitors’ attempts to pull one back before the break. A number of blocks, tackles and alert interceptions prevented this from happening.
A fantastic one-handed save low down from Baker to deny McCarthy’s stinging shot was crucial and, just before the first 45 drew to a close, there was a nail-biting moment as he clawed the ball back on his goal-line as the dangerous Tom Hewlett almost reduced arrears.
To a man, there was an intensity that is testimony to interim-managers Hall and Thompson and the work ethic that they have instilled in the players, captain Matt Britton and vice-captain Josh Jones relaying this message on the field and leading by example.
Players like Javan Wright covered every blade of grass for the temporary management team; there were strong displays in the engine room from Jeff Forkuo and Dylan Jones; and Bailey Kempster showed his undoubted quality at full-back.
Tiverton were two goals to the good at the interval and deserved to be in front. When the second half began, Hewlett was replaced by Rafa Ramos as the Dolphins looked for a way back into the game.
Predictably, the Dorset side saw more of the ball when we resumed, but the Yellows’ pace and threat on the break always meant we were dangerous when we countered.
Dylan Jones carved out an opportunity all of his own making, wriggling free of his marker and bursting past a few Dolphins with skill and determination before seeing a shot fly across Plain’s goal and fractionally beyond his upright.
Tivvy had to withstand a concerted effort from the visitors in the second period and a golden opportunity for Joe Parker to put the game to bed was uncharacteristically squandered, a defensive error seeing him in the clear, but his shot flew over the bar.
For Poole, a free header for Ramos, an equally presentable chance, cleared the Yellows’ goal and when Toby Holmes got to the bye-line and crossed in, the ball just evaded onrushing Dolphins’ players, much to the relief of our supporters and our team.
Baker then saved well with his feet, down at his post from Josh Staunton in a crowded Tivvy box. Slade then clipped the crossbar after a neat bit of control enabled him to get off a powerful shot.
The next goal belonged to the Yellows after a probing run from Parker initially came to Churchley, on as a second-half substitute. His attempted shot rebounded off of a visiting defender and came to Wright with his back to goal on the edge of the box. All in one movement, he swivelled on the turn and his low shot found the corner of Plain’s net - a brilliant technical finish from the industrious Wright.
That goal came in the 86th minute and despite a consolation from Dolphin sub Dario De Luca, it was very much Tiverton’s day at Ladysmead. A very encouraging display as a very much together group of players left the field following this 3-1 victory.
Who knows what the coming days will bring manager wise? But it is impossible not to be impressed by how Asa and Niall have galvanised the team and inspired them to produce two excellent displays in front of their fans.
For this, we need to express our gratitude and applaud their efforts in difficult and challenging circumstances. Whoever fills the current vacancy has had their ship steadied by two people who have definitely risen to the occasion.
We head to Hungerford next Saturday with a united set of players and who knows what next week will bring?
Yellows: Z Baker, Forkuo, Hall, J Jones, Kempster, Britton(c), D Jones, Wright, Grubb (Churchley 60), Swann (Simons 90), Parker (Bernard 90). Substitute (not used): Traynor-Smith.
Attendance: 276.
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