The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Folkstone Invicta 0 - 3 Tiverton TownSaturday 15/12/2001 Southern League Premier Division | John Reidy |
Thriller and crime novel writers of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century came up with some fantastic tales and intriguing twists to their stories. Some of those authors and their famous characters became national institutions; Sir Arthur Conan Doyle with Sherlock Holmes and the elementary Dr. Watson: Agatha Christie with Hercule Piorot - surely more famous than any real life Belgian - and Miss Marple. The fame and fortune of these purveyors of fiction was aided no doubt by the interest of the public in crime and the criminal as promoted by the increasing influence of the mass media. Some of the webs woven by those literary giants leant heavily on the theories of the practitioners of the ´new´ science of criminology. The study of and thus‚ hopefully‚ the understanding of the mind of the erring was at best an inexact science. One commonly held belief was that the perpetrator of a crime would always return to the scene of his misdemeanour. Any Folkestone Invica fan believing in that theory might well have held up Tivvys return to the Mouth of the Chunnel as evidence in support of their case. After all weren´t the Yellows guilty of a ´crime´ - robbing Invicta of a place in the second round of the FA Trophy by stealing a single goal victory six weeks ago in Kent? And here we were again‚ back at the scene of the larceny. For that November visit it was a beautiful sunny and warm day. We basked in the south coast sun and I even went for a paddle in La Manche. No chance of doing anything as outrageous this time. It was bitterly cold‚ almost arctic. There were other changes‚ too‚ in the intervening weeks. No Paul Tatterton; no Dave Leonard‚ no Luke Vinnicombe. Then Jamie Mudge was awaiting clearance‚ Steve Ovens injured. Stu Smith and Pete Conning were still in the squad‚ even Martyn Grimshaw got on the team sheet if not the field‚ being named as the fifth substitute but failing to make this seasons ´cameo´ appearance. Budget trimming had resulted in a number of players leaving the Ambers so the scene of crime may have been the same but there was every reason to believe that the scenario would be different. First difference was that the game got off to a lively start. Both sides were looking to push forward and though there were early chances both defences earned their keep in the first ten minutes. Kevin Nancekivell was first to show goal hunger for the Whites (first outing for my new replica away shirt‚ I didn´t make it to Newport) as he powered forward to hit a cross goal shot that flew not close enough to sneak inside the left hand post but just too close for Paul Chenoweth to reach as he charged forward in support. The home side got into the act by laying siege to Paul Edwards´ penalty area; in their amber and black striped shirts they looked not unlike a swarm of ballistic bees as they buzzed around but went nowhere. Eventually a shot came in‚ or rather out‚ for the ball flew high and wide. Things evened out somewhat but most of the forward movement was coming from the Kent men. Then Nick Marker began to take full control of the approaches to the penalty area and Scot Rogers started to show strength in midfield. As so often has happened in recent games Tivvy weathered the storm and gradually took control and it was hardly unexpected when they grabbed the lead exactly half way through the first 45. Jamie Mudge had been causing consternation amongst the Invicta defence since the first whistle and he did it again‚ flowing away down the right. His cross put every amber and black shirt under pressure and it was no surprise to see a muffed clearance fall to Scot Rogers pushing up behind his front runners. One firm connection and the net bulged‚ Tivvy were in front. Back buzzed Folkestone‚ as far as the edge of the penalty area‚ no further. The lead was so nearly increased five minutes later. Steve Peters seems to have taken over Nicky Markers role at corners. Paul Chenoweth whipped one over from the right. Peters was up and met it firmly. Weitecha was beaten but the ball flew inches wide of his left hand post. At the opposite end Paul Edwards had been well protected from a pretty ineffective attacking force but was finally called upon to earn his keep when Martin Chandler broke free and charged down the left flank before unleashing a fierce shot that had Eddie getting well down to force the ball past the post for a corner. Minutes later there was an almighty goalmouth scramble as Invicta fought for the equaliser but a couple of goal-line clearances kept the ball out‚ Eddy´s sheet clean and his laundry bill down. The lead was intact at half time but a single goal margin is always a precarious thing at this level. On Friday‚ contractors digging drainage channels along the edge of the pitch had severed a cable feeding one of the floodlight pylons which were sited only at each corner of the ground. The supply could not be restored and as darkness fell one corner of the pitch was decidedly dimpsy. We wondered if the game would be allowed to continue but it did‚ clearance apparently having been obtained prior to the match starting. The Invicta players probably wished the darkness would expand and swallow then up or at least hide their blushes at the way the second half started. Early goals‚ scored or conceded‚ are becoming a feature of Tivvy games. Kevin Nancekivell provided the quickest of the season so far as the game got underway again. Tivvy kicked off. The ball went out to the left‚ came back inside to Jamie Mudge who sent it diagonally across to Nance‚ marauding forward towards the right-hand side of the penalty area. Nance had all the time and space he could want to control the ball and take it past Weicheta. But he had been forced right to the goal line. He cut in and shot. Unlike against Hednesford there were no defenders on the line to hack it away. How Kev managed to squeeze the ball home from such an acute angle...........but he did‚ and it crossed the line and it was 0-2. No Folkestone foot had touched the ball and there was only twenty seconds on the watch! Invicta were stunned into action. Forward they poured but for the most Tivvy´s defence looked comfortable. Eddie gave us a fright as he casually took a James Dryden header and promptly dropped the ball which hit the foot of the post and span goalwards. Neil Saunders spared the keeper´s embarrassment by hacking the ball away for a corner. As the home side increased the pressure shot after shot was blocked‚ saved or sent wide. Perhaps believing that attack would be the most effective means of defence Martyn Rogers brought on Richard Pears to replace Jamie Mudge. There was an immediate change to the game. Pearsy started to both hold the ball as clearances were made and dispel any accusations about his work rate by chasing everything that came near him and moved. Within a minute Phil Everett was set free down the right‚ stopped dead to let the pursuing defender charge past him and sent a beautiful little centre into the middle‚ only to see Nance fail to control the ball and do the Invicta defences job by clearing it back up field. The Whites defenders were enjoying their respite‚ so sent the ball back forward. Pearsy´s turn to chase down the wing and force in the cross. Everett met it at the far post and it was heading into the net until Weitecha stumbled across its path and bumbled it past the post. The bewildered keeper had no idea of where the ball had gone or how it had got there! The corner was taken short (no comments please Mr Editor) and never made it to the penalty area as Invicta forced Town back. But Tivvy had seized the initiative and it was Everett´s turn to charge down the right again. Another cross. This time it was Richard in the middle but for once his first touch let him down and away up field went Invicta. But back came Tivvy down the right again. Pearsy lost it. The defenders tried to play triangles to work it clear. Richard chased and harried until the ball was hurriedly sliced away and out for a throw. Pears collected the ball from the throw‚ slid it inside the defender‚ Steve Winter ran outside the defender and was clear with the ball. Pearsy had moved across into the middle as Wints carried the ball forward. Over came the cross‚ right to Pears´s foot. Thump! 3-0. Weicheta had not moved‚ he was rooted to the goal-line again. (Weitecha line man?). It was time to defend again for Tivvy. Marcus Gross replaced Cheno and the Whites settled down to protect their lead. Then disaster. Pears was still chasing clearances and suddenly was a heap on the deck. He´d contacted some studs in a tackle. Play was eventually halted. Off he hobbled and on came Antony Lynch. Five minutes later there was another white shirt on the ground. Steve Winter. It looked bad. A stretcher was brought and Steve was carried away. Ten man Tivvy had ten minutes to hang on. There were a few ´moments´ but they did it. A new formation was devised‚ 1-8-1. Eddie in goal; Lynch up front; Eight defenders; No midfield. It worked. Folkestone´s fans could not claim this time that the outcome was robbery by Tivvy‚ it was far more serious than that for the Men of Kent. Town are up to twelfth in the table and could go higher on Wednesday. Bring on Worcester - there´s a score to settle‚ and Tivvy are looking good enough to settle it. Tiverton Town: Paul Edwards‚ Steve Winter‚ Neil Saunders‚ Steve Peters‚ Nicky Marker‚ Scott Rogers‚ Kevin Nancekivell, Jamie Mudge, Phil Everett, David Steele, Paul Chenoweth. Subs: Richard Pears (Mudge,67), Anthony Lynch (Pears,79), Marcus Gross (Chenoweth,76). Folkestone Invicta: Dave Weitecha, Andy Morris, Dan Larkin, Andy Larkin, Scott Daniels, Mike Azzopardi, Martin Chandler, Danny G. Chapman, James Dryden, Nicky Dent, Anthony Henry. Subs: John Ayling, Anthony Hogg, Lee Winfield. |