TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Tiverton Town 7 - 0 Exmouth Town

Wednesday 07/11/2001   Devon St Luke's Cup
John Reidy

And tonight on 'New Faces' we have...

The first television 'Talent' show I remember was Junior Discoveries and I only remember that because a girl at my school went on it showing her skills as a contortionist. Goodness‚ she really could get into some interesting positions‚ but I could never really see the point. Then came Opportunity Knocks. That show did manage to produce a number of acts that were to become 'stars' (Mary Hopkin for one) and was hosted by Hugie Green‚ an opportunist if ever there was one‚ as Paula Yates was to find out a few years later.

The last of the 'big' talent shows was New Faces‚ and this Devon St Lukes Cup tie against Exmouth had all the promise of introducing new talent to Ladysmead that those long gone TV shows had of introducing new stars to the world of entertainment.

Defender Steve Peters had not yet put pen to paper but one new signing‚ Jamie Mudge‚ made his debut in the Yellow shirt; and to add even further interest to a match in a competition that usually only brightens up come the semi-finals‚ the visitors included former Tivvy favourite and one time holder of the club scoring record‚ Kevin (Smudger) Smith who was making his first appearance on the Ladysmead turf since he left the club three and a half years ago.

As might have been expected Exmouth ran at their hosts from the outset. But in football running is not enough if you don't take the ball with you‚ and unlike with some of our league opponents it rapidly became clear that there was going to be little threat from the Exmouth exertions. Having said that‚ it was the men from the coast that had the first real chance of finding the net. The Tivvy defence gave away a free kick in 'Smudger territory'. For anyone that can't remember 'Smudger territory' is any where within five yards of the penalty area. Those that could remember held their breath as Kevin shaped to take the kick‚ then let it out with a thankful sigh as the ball curled harmlessly well wide of the goal.

The Yellows decided it was time to get moving forward themselves and stepped up a gear. In doing so they still looked to be playing well within themselves but it was enough to leave Exmouth standing. Against this level of opposition and with the fringe players all getting a run out it was not to be wondered at that it was the direct approach that saw the home side take the lead in the 9th minute. A long ball from Pete Conning‚ way out towards the Tivvy left went over the heads of the defenders and found new boy Mudge in acres of space at the far edge of the six yard box. For a seventeen year old making his debut young Jamie showed remarkable coolness as he imparted just the right amount of curl to his shot to carry it past the stranded goalkeeper and into the net from a seriously acute angle. He was obviously delighted‚ as were the Ladysmead fans‚ and rightly so; after all what could be better than a goal on your debut?

Shortly after the opening goal‚ Exmouth looked like they might have drawn level. Paul Edwards was given a difficult back pass. It was neither high enough to chest down not low enough to kick. Eddie tried the later but missed and the ball headed towards the net with Eddie scampering in pursuit. The sheet was kept clean with the latest of goal-line clearances.

That was to be the last chance of the half for the men in blue. Tivvy were in complete control‚ dominating the game and dictating the pace and every other facet of the game. It was only a matter of time before the tally was increased. Phil Everett did the job in the 17th minute. Luke Vinnicombe's long ball out of the back line fell to Pete Conning who controlled it‚ allowed Phil to take the ball off his toe and move into the area before smashing it under the exposed Simon Harris.

Those long through passes were creating havoc in the Exmouth defence and with all their forwards looking lively Tiverton seemed to be on course for a hatful of goals. Mudge seemed to have taken the view that two goals on his debut would be better than one‚ but he missed his next chance as he misjudged his attempt to lob Harris. Next time round though he added his second strike as he broke down the right wing‚ cut in and again found the net with apparent ease. 3-0‚ but not for long! Mudge again down the right. Too far to cut in on goal himself‚ so down to the goal-line and cross over the top of the keeper for Antony Lynch to head home unmarked. Still there were twelve minutes of the half left. Even Stuart Smith was getting forward enough to send a shot just past the angle of upright and crossbar‚ followed minutes later by an effort from Pete Conning that passed just as close on the opposite side. Mudge had not finished yet‚ and before the break he again found space on the right‚ beat the left back for speed‚ leaving him sat on the soggy turf‚ he sent in a little 'dinky' cross that Kevin Nancekivell drove past the rapidly despairing Harris.

A half time score of 5-0 had me wondering if I was going to run out of fingers to count on before the evening was over.

Richard Pears replaced Kevin Nancekivell at the break and Tivvy continued where they left off. Within minutes Mudge was back in the limelight‚ but missed a golden opportunity of completing his hat-trick‚ blasting wide from six yards after Pears had let a Lynch cross from the right wing run on to him. Eight minutes into the second half there was a worrying moment for the Yellows. Not worrying as far as the game was concerned‚ more as far as the future went. Steve Winter who in the absence of Nicky Marker was proudly wearing the captains arm band‚ went on one of his forays down the wing‚ but having successfully sent in his cross‚ collapsed in a painful heap and had to be helped from the field. With more 'cup' games just round the corner‚ the fans‚ and Steve himself‚ will be hoping the injury turns out to be none too serious. 'Wints' was replaced by Neil Saunders and minutes later Marker came on to give Paul Tatterton the rest of the evening off. The game went quiet‚ Tivvy still in control‚ still running the game but content to let most of it take place in their own half of the field.

When they did push forward the Yellows looked as if they could score at will‚ but it was not until the 65th minute that they actually did. It was that lad Jamie Mudge that did the damage again. Lynchie did the work this time as he chased down another of those long balls and sent in a powerful cross. An Exmouth defender tried to control it with hid midriff but used his hands as well. The appeals went up but the referee‚ seeing that the ball had fallen to Mudge‚ allowed play to continue‚ and the Yellows debutant buried the ball to complete his hat-trick. Six minutes later his personal tally was four and Tivvy's seventh. For a change, the break came from the left. Neil sent over a cross, Jamie lurking towards the back of the penalty area brought it down with his chest, steadied himself and fired home under the keeper to well and truly kill the game.

Seven proved to be a lucky number for the visitors for they conceded no more. They had another chance themselves but Kevin Smith drove his free kick over the wall and over the crossbar.

It was a useful run out for the players; better than a training session but hardly a test. Mudge was as impressive as any debutant that I can remember and if he can reproduce his performance when he's faced with tougher opposition will certainly be a star. He obviously enjoyed himself and fitted in well with the players around him - hardly surprising when one considers the time he has spent at Ladysmead waiting for the red tape to be unravelled.

Next stop Welling, then Clevedon, then Cardiff. Ample chance for opportunity to knock once more.


Tiverton Town: Paul Edwards, Steve Winter (Neil Saunders 55), Stuart Smith, Paul Tatterton (Nicky Marker 57), Luke Vinnicombe, Pete Conning, Kevin Nancekivell (Richard Pears 46), Jamie Mudge, Phil Everett, David Steele, Antony Lynch

Exmouth Town: Simon Harris, Danny Burwood, Russell Wilson, Paul Pocock, Steve Taylor, Charlie Gray, Andy Widger, Steve May, Douggie Jane, Kevin Smith, Danny Williams (Terry Price 55)

Attendance: 414


This report ©2001 John Reidy