TIVVY ARCHIVE

Cinderford Town 1 - 3 Tiverton Town

It was a moment lost on everyone - including yours truly. For 15 minutes‚ we were top of the league. And it only dawned on me just after midnight as I flopped down on my bed. Thanks to us kicking off at 7.30 (whereas others started at 7.45)‚ our early finish‚ combined with our total of four points‚ put us top from around 9:15 to 9:30. Dodge‚ when told this on Wednesday morning‚ elicited a characteristic chuckle and then said‚ "Hopefully again on Saturday". With no further injuries following this rugged clash at Cinderford‚ spirits are sky high and the way we marauded our Gloucestershire hosts was a joy to behold. Coupled with our two front runners keeping up their 100% start to the season of two goals in two games‚ who could wish for more? But‚ it took a while to wear Cinderford down. Paul Weeks was again superb at stopping shots‚ and causing problems in our area with his gargantuan hoofs up the field‚ but the reliance on the pace and skill of Dave Toomey was never going to be enough with Tivvy welcoming back Neil Saunders to the defence following the mix-up in his registration that precluded him from playing Saturday.

And we didn´t even miss Kevin Nancekivell who‚ at last‚ has managed to get his dream move to Plymouth Argyle.

So‚ to the action...

Toomey showed what he was capable of as early as the third minute when‚ after early Tivvy pressure‚ Cinderford caught us on the break and it needed Paul Edwards´ legs to save the day at the expense of a corner. Eight minutes later saw the only booking of the game‚ Clayton Hook for whipping away Steve Daly´s legs from behind with studs showing. We had tons of possession and many shooting opportunites spread around the side but they were either just off target or superbly dealt with by Weeks - the best of which came in the 26th minute when Steve Daly hit a thunderbolt that Weeks not only saved but held onto in mid-air. Then‚ a few seconds later‚ we gained possession again and Phil Everett thudded the ball goalwards only for Weeks to palm it away. Tivvy were really turning the screw. But they had to for‚ having seen Toomey sneak in a speculative shot from a tight angle eight minutes earlier which‚ fortunately‚ skimmed past the far post‚ the game was finely poised and the first half ended goalless.

Just 41 seconds after the break Steve Daly(!) outpaced the home defence to get his boot to the ball as Weeks hesitated. It looped over him and into the onion bag. Another first - our maiden goal at the Causeway and oh so sweet for Dales after his penalty miss there last season. Ten minutes later we witnessed what we had missed for the past 12 months. A curling cross from the left by Dave Leonard met by the soaring Phil Everett to head home our second of the night. Joy.

But Dave Toomey wasn´t to miss out. A free kick wide on the left in the 62nd minute was wickedly curled towards the near post and he managed to squeeze the ball through a flurry of legs and Paul Edwards´ hands to make it 2-1. However‚ we never looked as if we would drop points and our superiority in front of goal was epitomised in the 73rd minute when Richard Pears found that extra inch to stretch his boot out in mid-flight to poke home our third of the night.

An excellent result from a very enjoyable game. Roll on Saturday.

Tiverton Town: Paul Edwards‚ Dominic Richardson‚ Neil Saunders‚ Paul Tatterton‚ Nicky Marker (Stuart Smith 84)‚ Scott Rogers‚ Jason Rees‚ Richard Pears‚ Phil Everett (Pete Conning 85)‚ Steve Daly (Steve Ovens 85)‚ Dave Leonard

Cinderford Town: Paul Weeks‚ Martin Thompson‚ Brian Kyall (Adie Harris 54)‚ Danny Iddles‚ Lyndon Tomkins, Ian Howes, Paul Donnelly (Dan Moore 80), Steve Cains, Dave Toomey, John Lang (Marcus Bloomfield 80), Clayton Hook

Attendance: 206