Match Report - Taunton Town

Taunton Town 0 

Tiverton Town 0 

Monday 21st April 2025 

The Cygnet Healthcare Stadium 

In terms of effort, Asa Hall and his Assistant Steve Orchard couldn't have asked for more from this group of players. Since taking the reins, the number of times that their team have risen to the challenge indicates a mutual respect, in what they're trying to achieve. 

Tiverton arrived at Wordsworth Drive having delivered victory in the first part of their Easter remit, with a Dan Koita brace firing the Yellows to an essential result, on Saturday. However, knowing that defeat here, because of a far inferior goal difference to our relegation rivals would realistically probably end our stay in the division. 

The weight of recent history and the often-partisan sections of Taunton's following, made this an extremely daunting proposition. However, the Tiverton fans travelled in force and from the outset were passionate in their support for the team. 

At least one hundred Tiverton fans were present amongst a crowd in excess of 1300 and made more noise and out-sang their hosts for the majority of the afternoon. Taking an end behind the goal, something that hasn’t happened for around eight seasons. 

Tiverton’s preparations for the Easter games, haven’t been ideal with Joe Duncan’s injury and were further rocked by Jeff Forkuo being forced out of this one through Illness. Gabe Billington coming into the starting line-up, with young Will Howard once again deputising in goal. 

Toby Down and Charlie Cummins were back again on what was their home turf earlier in the season. Two of Tiverton’s players from the last campaign were named in the Peacocks matchday squad, Alfie Moulden starting and Jack Rice returning from injury, amongst the subs.  

When the sides emerged from the dressing room and things got underway, it was a typical frantic opening to a derby game. Although it was the Yellow’s roared on by their supporters who posed the greater threat in a very encouraging start to proceedings for Asa Hall’s men. 

Taunton conceding a corner in the fourth minute, after Niall Thompson, Joe Parker and Dan Koita had linked up at pace and to good effect. Although it was comfortably headed away, Tiverton continued to press and unsettle their hosts. 

Koita then received the ball in the 13th minute with his back to goal on the edge of The Peacock’s area. Rolling his defender, he curled the ball towards the right bottom corner of Josh Gould’s goal. With Gould beaten, the Yellows’ striker narrowly missed, his effort going just past the post. 

Midfielder Latrell Humphrey-Ewers who had been lively, with his low centre of gravity presenting a danger, made an important last-ditch tackle on Joe Parker in the 23rd minute, otherwise, the former Newport forward was in. 

A short while later, down the other end Alfie Moulden played in Jayden Neilsen, who shot into the side netting. It was Tivvy though that had been slightly in the ascendancy, before a period of scrappy play followed.  

Thompson was enjoying a fair bit of success down Taunton’s left and on one of his surges forward the ball inadvertently came to Parker, who with some sharp control, shifted the ball onto his right foot, forcing an excellent reaction save from Gould low down, inside his post. 

That 37th minute effort highlighting a combined attacking threat that was lacking until the impressive Koita was given his chance by Asa Hall. His strike partner was involved in the first phase of that move. 

Both Parker and Koita were giving their host’s plenty of food for thought and posing plenty of problems. In the 42nd minute Will Howard parried away Josh Bennett’s half chance, but it was Tiverton who ended the half, as they started it; on the front foot. 

However, a flurry of goal bound efforts were blocked well by The Peacock’s rear guard and we went into the interval goalless. The happier of the two dressing rooms I guess was Tivvy’s one, despite the feeling that they should have been ahead. 

The visitors once again settled the quickest and won a free kick in a promising wide position. Unfortunately, though the delivery in, eluded several onrushing Yellows’ and went behind for a goal kick. 

Then a sweeping move in the 53rd minute, that began with Thompson's blistering pace, enabling him to power beyond his marker, found Koita just inside the box. He held the ball up and rolled the ball across to Hall, but he couldn’t take what was a good chance and his thumping shot, was rising as it went over the bar. 

Taunton were seeing more of the ball in the second half, though Toby Down and Charlie Cummins were once again superb in the heart of Tiverton’s defence in keeping the home side at bay. 

Some more strong Play, near the corner flag saw Koita brought down, but the free kick from Jamil Robert’s was overhit. That happened in the 63rd minute and Two minutes after that, Parker who appeared to take a knock was replaced by Joe Beardwell. Parker had worked his socks off. 

In the 73rd minute Hall had a half chance, but his attempt from just outside the box was struck whilst under pressure from two Peacocks and once again cleared the bar. 

With just under ten minutes remaining; last season’s Supporter’s Player of the Year Jack Rice came on for the hosts, replacing Owen Brain.  

Stan Anaebonum also on as a substitute then hit a thunderbolt that required a magnificent save from Howard. He didn’t disappoint and tipped over at full stretch. 

It was a superb piece of keeping from Howard who had shown great composure, all afternoon. In the 85th minute Robert’s went for goal with a long range free kick. But Gould was able to watch the ball into his gloves. 

Taunton then had their best spell of the match. Rice squared to Bailey Croome, though similarly Howard was able to watch the ball into his glove’s, this time. Five minutes injury time was added and with board came the Yellows final change, with Steve Orchard bringing on Marcus Day, for Koita who continues to shine. 

The dangerous Humphrey-Ewers cross in, was met by Ollie Woodhouse who headed over in the 92nd minute then a bright bit of wing play from Day, caused Taunton to put the ball out for a corner. 

The ball in though was cleared without alarm and moments afterwards the players were shaking hands. 

Every player in a Yellow shirt had given absolutely everything, under a massive amount of pressure and were so close to taking all three points. Our fans were superb on the day too and both the team and it’s supporter’s couldn’t have asked more of each other. 

This sets it all up for a nerve jangling finish on Saturday, when we welcome Marlow. There are no fewer than 6 teams that can be relegated in the final round of fixtures, when they’re completed. 

Whatever happens we’re immensely proud of the spirit and quality of performance we have seen in the latter part of the season from the lad’s and in total admiration of the job that Asa Hall and Steve Orchard have been doing. 

It’s pay what you want on Saturday, so let’s pack the park and give our team, every ounce of support that we’ve got and hope the football god’s smile down on us. 

Tiverton Town: Howard, D. Jones, Down, Cummins, Roberts, Billington, Britton, Hall, Thompson, Parker, Koita. 

Substitutes: Beardwell, Gleeson, Day, J. Jones.