Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South
Tiverton Town 1 (Parker 18)
Dorchester Town 1 (Koszela pen 28)
Tuesday, August 13 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium . 7.45pm
FOLLOWING a humbling experience in their opening fixture at the weekend, the players’ first game on home soil pitted them against another promotion favourite Dorchester Town.
The management team made a single change to the line up, bringing in Tor Swann for defender Calum Thomas in what looked like a 4-4-1-1 formation as opposed to the 5-4-1 at Merthyr, Asa Hall once again playing as a centre-back.
Dorchester were without their injured striker Shaquille Gwengwe and goalkeeper Gerard Benfield, who suffered injury in the Magpies’ first game against Havant & Waterlooville. Nevertheless it was a strong looking starting 11 for the visitors, including many of the players who took part in their two victories against us last term and new arrival, ex-EFL man Wes Fogden.
With a very healthy away support behind them, the Magpies were first into their stride with some neat possession football, but a dogged and determined Yellows kept them at bay in a high tempo opening to the game.
There was a speculative lobbed attempt by Joe Parker and ex-Yellow Olaf Koszela had a goal ruled out for offside and, although lacking fluency, a resilient Tivvy gradually grew into the game. Tor Swann’s inclusion was a good one as he played with confidence and quality during the evening.
With our players closing down and pressing, a Dorchester defender’s pass fell short of its intended target and in nipped the ever alert Parker. He still had plenty of work to do, but clinically took the ball into the area from out wide on the Magpies right, starting ten yards in from their corner flag, before emphatically finishing beyond Noah Crisp in the visitors’ goal.
That goal arrived in the 18th minute and, ten minutes later, the away side had levelled things up.
With the influential Fogden pulling the strings in midfield, pressure was mounting on our rearguard. We survived a penalty appeal and a free-kick minutes earlier in a dangerous position that the assured home debutant Matt Wonnacott watched over his bar. However, a second penalty appeal saw the referee point to the spot although contact was minimal. Up stepped Koszela to make the score equal.
Good vision from Jay Murray found Javan Wright in the box. However, he found himself closely attended to by a couple of Dorchester defenders as his shot was easily gathered by Crisp. Wayne Robinson then had his attempt parried by Wonnacott and, from the rebound, a couple of last-ditch blocks prevented the visitors from leading.
Just before the interval, the injured Wright hobbled off and was replaced by Leighton Thomas, a former Dorchester player. This also meant a change of formation as the Cayman Islander joined Parker up front.
There was nothing to choose from between the sides as they headed to the dressing room, although this was an encouraging riposte to the display at Merthyr.
Whereas the Magpies were the better side in the first half, the second period saw us more fluent when playing through the team and there was a greater belief and conviction about us as a side.
Murray’s shot was deflected for a corner and Thomas drew a point-blank save from the Dorchester ’keeper after being found by the accelerating Niall Thompson.
Moments later, Thomas athletically headed the ball back across Crisp, but he handled well. Thompson’s familiar bursts down their left were proving a profitable outlet.
Wonnacott then got down well to make a very good save to deny Koszela and, from a Magpies’ corner, a series of blocks from Yellows players putting bodies on the line meant the scoreline remained the same.
Hall, who was having a commanding game at the back, then headed over at the other end. The dangerous Parker then saw an effort flash wide after being first to a long ball and cutting inside a couple of Magpies.
Both sides were creating chances and Koszela's shot cleared the crossbar after a quick break, the classy Fogden often developing the away side’s play.
Wonnacott then saved well from substitute Luke Roberts, smothered an attempt from Fogden, and denied Koszela again.
However, it finished honours even and the Yellows’ fans went home happy having witnessed a gutsy display against a much fancied and talented Dorchester side.
This is definitely something we can build on and we did play much better after the interval.
Our second home game this week sees the visit of newboys Chertsey Town, who started impressively with a 4-1 home win against Hungerford and lost 3-0 at Havant and Waterlooville in midweek.
Tiverton Town: Wonnacott, Thompson, Hall, J Jones, D Jones, Britton(c), Wright (L Thomas 44), Forkuo, Murray, Swann, Parker.
Substitutes (not used): Kyle Anderson, Theo Jeremy, Calum Thomas, Ben Gerring.
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