Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South
Tiverton Town 0
AFC Totton 1 (Blair 90 +1)
Saturday, December 14 . 3pm . Ian Moorcroft Stadium
IT was to be a disappointing end to the game for the Yellows. They had looked more than a match for their higher placed opponents in the first half before, a short way into the concluding half, they were dealt a blow when two yellow cards for Toby Down saw his ‘second debut’ for Tiverton cut short.
Totton, who are very much contesting automatic promotion with Merthyr and blessed with the attacking riches of former Premier League striker Charlie Austin, ex EFL centre-forward Scott Rendell, and serial goalscorer in this division Tony Lee, arrived at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium, unbeaten since September 14.
After taking the scalps of Walton & Hersham and Basingstoke, though, Tiverton were hopeful of causing an upset. Welcoming back Niall Thompson and Asa Hall from suspension and including new centre-back signing Down in the starting 11 were real plusses, but forward pivot Nat Jarvis was unavailable.
A wet surface greeted both sides and the conditions often saw both sides knock the ball long, bypassing the midfield. The opening 15 minutes saw the teams struggling to gain the upper hand, but the Yellows started a little better than the visitors.
Ethan Taylor then screwed his shot wide after being played in for the Stags and Charlie Kennedy flashed narrowly past the post for the second-placed side.
In the 21st minute, it took an excellent recovery tackle from ex Torquay EFL player Joe Oastler to deny Tor Swann an obvious opportunity. Then, just after the half-hour mark, the Yellow’ forced a corner. From the delivery, Swann, decently positioned, could not quite find a finish with his header.
There was little in the way of chances leading up to half time, but Rob Dray’s men had shown enough to suggest a third consecutive victory was a possibility. They were hardworking, combative and organised, with Down slotting in well and Oli Jenkins, in particular, asserting himself in midfield.
However, when the teams did return, Tiverton were severely hampered by the dismissal of Down after receiving yellows in the 48th and 57th minutes, adecision that appeared harsh.
Tivvy regrouped with Swann and Joe Parker both replaced and the players continued to play positively and almost took the lead when Dylan Jones’ effort at the near post produced a fine save from Ryan Gosney in the Stags’ goal. This 68th-minute effort prompted changes from Jimmy Ball, Totton’s manager.
On came attacking midfielder Tom Blair and off went defender Ben Jefford, with former Austin making way for Rendell.
The visitors started to throw the kitchen sink at Tivvy. Taylor’s corner hit goalkeeper Joe Duncan’s near post and two attempts from Kennedy, one with his head and the other with his boot, missed the target. The assured Duncan was then booked for time-wasting before Tony Lee fired an acrobatic volley wide.
The determined Yellows were very competitive, though, and continued to look dangerous on the break.
The ten men who impressively reached added time level, then had their resilience broken. Blair’s 92nd-minute winner was a cruel blow to Tivvy and secured all three points for the visitors, his shot from inside the box in a crowded penalty area after a corner doing the damage.
It was a gutting way to lose after yet another stirring display from Tiverton, who were very much in with a shout of winning themselves until the sending-off and still threatened after the numerical disadvantage.
We visit Dorchester next in what should be an intriguing encounter. Their latest result was a 2-2 draw at Walton & Hersham.
Having played each other twice, drawing in the league and tThe Yellows’ going out on penalties in the FA Trophy, the two teams should know plenty about each other.
Yellows: Duncan; Thompson, Hall, Down, Kempster, Britton, Jenkins, D.Jones, Churchley, Swann, Parker. Substitutes: J Jones, Day, Wright, Harmer.
Attendance: 306.
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