The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Tiverton Town 1 - 2 Crystal PalaceThursday 19/07/2001 Friendly | John Reidy |
Martyn Rogers was left to rue his side´s bad luck after two-goal Andy Martin hit Crystal Palace´s winner with virtually the last kick of the game at Ladysmead last night. Nationwide League Division 1 side Palace — whose squad included such luminaries as former England under-21 star Hayden Mullins‚ Dean Austin and Dougie Freedman — ran out 2-1 winners after Kevin Nancekivell replied to Martin´s 29th-minute opener with a well-taken strike of his own on 49 minutes. Rogers admitted: "It is frustrating to concede a goal at that stage of the game even when it is a friendly‚ because my players worked themselves into the ground. "But the performance itself was encouraging. We were a little bit disorganised for the first 15‚ 20 minutes but I thought that after that we got to grips with the situation. "In my eyes‚ there is no such thing as a friendly — I want to win every match I take part in." After a typically frantic start ‚ Palace grabbed the opener in the 29th minute. Tommy Black´s corner from the right-hand side was headed towards goal by the always-threatening Julian Gray for Martin to bundle the ball over the line. Just over 10 minutes earlier Tivvy had wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead when new signing Antony Lynch shot wide with just the goalkeeper to beat after being set up by fellow front man Steve Ovens. A goal so soon into his Ladysmead career would have done the former Taunton Town marksman a world of good‚ but it was not to be and at half-time he and the hard-working Ovens were replaced by Phil Everett and Dave Toomey. Four minutes after the interval Nancekivell levelled matters‚ capitalising on some sloppy Palace defending to fire home from just inside the penalty box. Tivvy had keeper Paul Edwards to thank for some stunning saves from the likes of Palace´s Dougie Freedman‚ Gray and Black for the remainder of the half‚ before Martin´s second goal of the night sealed the London side´s win. The goal came after Edwards could only parry a Greg Berhalter shot from distance‚ Martin picking up the pieces to lash home from close in. |
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