Gloucester City 3
Jemmett-Hutson 7
Williams 55
Smalley 59
Tiverton Town 1
Parker 23
Attendance: 1803
Friday 28th March
The Tiger Turf Stadium
In the context of what was needed from this game, we didn't achieve the goal of taking something from it. Fourth placed Gloucester City have been in indifferent form of late and many a Tivvy fan like me, wondered if we could turn the table upside down and continue our four-game unbeaten run.
For Asa Hall and Steve Orchard's side to visibly look deeply disappointed at the final whistle, it says so much about their renewed spirit and belief and even more so about their performance.
The players can count themselves very unfortunate, to leave The Tiger Turf Stadium without anything to show for their efforts. There have been quite a few occasions this term, when the team have simply not played at the standard required for this division. This, however, was not one of them !
A bumper crowd of a little over 1800 witnessed an entertaining game of good quality, that was an excellent advert for the Southern League Premier South.
The management team fielded an unchanged eleven, following on from the heartening home victory against Swindon Supermarine, last Saturday. Joe Parker was up against his former club and Jamil Roberts was back amongst the substitutes.
It was the Tigers who made the brighter start and after reassuring handling from Duncan when dealing with a speculative shot through a crowd of players and ex Tivvy loanee Dan Ball’s free header from a corner that was placed wide, they took the lead.
Recent acquisition from Frome, Curtis Jemmet-Hutson getting on the score sheet in the seventh minute, heading into the corner via a post and Duncan’s outstretched arm.
This sprung The Yellows into action, who of course had conceded for the first time since the managerial change, five games ago.
The probing, lung busting runs of Dylan Jones and some excellent forward play from the front two of Joe Parker and Dan Koita meaning we were playing with some serious intent.
In the ninth Minute Koita accelerated past his marker, but pulled his shot, just wide and then Jones minutes later tricked his way down the Tigers left and the ball in, found the hungry Parker. His thumping volley rattling the underside of the crossbar.
Every time we progressed up the pitch, questions were being asked of the Gloucester defence. Lively and clever movement from Parker and Koita, signalling a threat that has been missing for long periods during the season.
Charlie Cummings who has been a revelation in recent weeks at centre back, once again displayed excellent defensive timing with a collection of superb tackles and interceptions throughout the evening.
He was on hand to make a decisive one, with a Gloucester forward in on goal, with his crucial intervention in the 14th minute.
Both sides were providing thrilling entertainment for the supporters, and this was heightened further by the fired-up Joe Parker. Tiverton broke and long percentage pass into the channel was collected by the onrushing Parker.
Cutting inside from the corner flag, on the angle, he unleashed a hammer of a shot from about 20/25 yards out into the opposing high stantion of the goal, with Tigers keeper Luke Bell clutching air. A superb individual moment of brilliance from him.
The goal came in the 23rd minute and minutes later the dangerous Koita turned the Tiger’s backline around with a combination of pace, power and good feet. His run down the flank, stretching the Gloucester half. His cross from the byline though, couldn’t evade Bell.
Just beyond the half hour mark, Koita was at it again, with Three or Four players left trailing in his wake, his driven effort produced an excellent stop from Coventry loanee Bell. Jones also drove forward as Tiverton looked strong in the final Third.
With the game opening up, although our hosts were good in possession and always threatening, the focus and defensive backbone of Jeff Forkuo, Cummings, Toby Down and Sam Gleeson was impressive, as both sides served up an impressive spectacle for the fans.
Level at the break and on chances perhaps we could have been in the box seat. I thought we shaded a thoroughly exhilarating opening half.
When the sides began the second period, The Yellows had the first opportunity to go ahead. A 49th minute free kick inadvertently reached Niall Thompson just outside the six-yard box, with Bell and a defender for company.
With his back to goal, he lost his footing and was unable to get a good connection on his swivelled shot and it rebounded tamely against the Tiger keeper’s post. In the scheme of things, this was a massive chance.
A slick passage of play from our hosts saw some flowing quick moving football, stretch our midfield and defensive unit. Attempts from Jemmet-Hutson and former Weston Super Mare and Hungerford wide man Elis Watts were fired wide but signalled a difficult period for Tivvy.
Down the other end, player-manager Hall tried his luck from range, but his shot was claimed by Bell. Though the pressure told and despite Duncan parrying an initial effort from the Tigers’, Ed Williams was there on the follow up as Gloucester regained the lead.
Just before we arrived at the hour mark, Substitute Brandon Smalley who had only moments earlier entered the pitch, extended the host’s lead. Turning home to make it 3-1. Collectively we had momentarily lost our focus.
Tiverton however didn’t lie down. Thompson’s threatening corner in, forced Gloucesters keeper into a decent save and Steve Orchard replaced Gleeson with creative midfielder Gabe Billington.
Although the outstanding Cummings made another fantastic sliding block-tackle to pretty much keep us in the game, on 70 minutes. Another very strong showing from the emerging Dan Koita, ended when fellow striker Joe Beardwell entered the fray in the 73rd minute.
Asa Hall fired over from a central free kick, almost 25 yards out, as the Yellows’ continued to press and probe for a way back into the game. The Tiger’s though were always a threat when in possession, especially when moving the ball quickly to the wings.
A last-ditch tackle once again prevented the home side from being in on goal. Tivvy exhausted all their attacking options in the 81st minute when Parker who was back to his threatening best, was withdrawn for the Skilful Marcus Day.
Day’s introduction prompted a final push from Asa Hall’s men, and they took the bull by the horns. Jones, Thompson and Day all rampaging forward. Despite being two goals behind, there was no lack of confidence or belief.
Tivvy continued to apply pressure and only a series of blocks and desperate tackles held them at bay. It finished 3-1 and remember this was against a strong play-off side, on their home 3G pitch, with an extremely large backing.
It was encouraging to see about 35 Tiverton fans cheering their side on and the fans support will be all important as we enter the final month of the season, looking to escape relegation. Five games to go; beginning with Bracknell at home on Saturday.
There were huge positives to take in defeat and the supporters can be proud of this group of players. Other significant results this weekend were as follows;
Chertsey 3 Bracknell 1
Frome 0 Hungerford 1
Parkway 3 Poole 1
Supermarine 1 Taunton 2
Walton & H 1 Basingstoke 1
Winchester 0 Merthyr 3
Ourselves, Poole and Frome remain in the bottom four, on 37 points. Our inferior goal difference meaning we remain below both. Winchester are just above the Drop Zone on 39 points, with Supermarine, Chertsey and Basingstoke all on 41 points.
Tiverton: Duncan, Forkuo, Cummings, Down, Gleeson, Thompson, Britton, Hall, D. Jones, Koita, Parker.
Subs: J. Jones, Billington, Day, Beardwell, Roberts.