The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Tiverton Town 2 - 0 Shortwood UnitedTuesday 03/10/2000 FA Cup | Nigel Davis |
This was men against boys - and the boys did well‚ holding out for over an hour before the inevitable cracks appeared. With some of the side having being groomed on the other side of the valley that ploughs through Nailsea - with Forest Green Rovers - there was no doubting their enthusiasm and skill. However‚ Tivvy always looked too strong. So we endured a frustrating first half when it was attack after attack met by staunch defending‚ occasionally with eleven men behind the ball. The turning point will probably be looked upon as the 18th minute when Mark Sumpter‚ Shortwood´s goalie‚ found himself one-on-one on Steve Ovens a few yards out of his box. He lost out as Ovens´ strength saw him come away from the tackle with the ball - but Sumpter failed to get up. Once treatment had been administered‚ he still looked a bit groggy and he failed to reappear after the interval. And Tivvy could - and should - have taken advantage of the situation. And they certainly came close. In the 21st minute‚ Neil Saunders´ glancing header was inches wide of the far post from‚ incredibly‚ Tivvy´s first corner. Then‚ three minutes later‚ Phil Everett sprayed the ball out to Dave Leonard. He then whipped the ball back into the box for Steve Daly to divert it goalwards. Sumpter did well to smother the ball and steer it wide. A further three minutes on and Shortwood caught Tivvy on the break but‚ despite the fact that Steve Walker breezed past Paul Tatterton‚ his shot was feeble and easily gathered by Paul Edwards. Six minutes before the break‚ Tivvy had another corner and‚ had Nick Marker made Neil Saunders aware of his presence‚ it is highly likely that he would have had a header on target. Neil´s missed the mark. A minute later saw Shortwood´s Adam Paul booked for clattering into Dave Leonard. After an elongated half-time break‚ Shortwood´s skipper Lee Driver-Dickerson came out donning the keeper´s gloves‚ with outfield sub Matthew Green on for Sumpter. And Driver-Dickerson passed his first couple of tests with flying colours‚ coping well with some tasty shots. But he was left flat-footed by a storming run by Scott Rogers. All his opponents backed off and he was able to square the ball to Phil Everett who‚ ten yards from goal‚ placed the ball wide of the ´keeper. Tivvy were ahead at last. And three minutes later the Shortwood defence stood still‚ allowing Neil Saunders a free header on goal - but the ball spooned away. But it is interesting how many times Neil has ventured forward in the last few games and‚ of course‚ he scored at Manor Farm on Saturday. And‚ talking of socring‚ that´s exactly what Steve Ovens did inside 60 seconds of this last near miss. He was there to finish off a great move by walking the ball into the net. With seven minutes of the game remaining‚ Nick Marker picked up a caution for a foul and‚ on 88 minutes‚ Dominic Richardson (who had replaced Steve Ovens nine minutes earlier) scooped a shot against the bar following Pete Varley´s cross. (Varley had come on for Pete Conning in the 76th minute). Line up: 1. Paul Edwards‚ 2. Jamie Morrison-Hill‚ 3. Neil Saunders‚ 4. Paul Tatterton‚ 5. Nicky Marker‚ 6. Scott Rogers‚ 7. Pete Conning‚ 8. Steve Ovens‚ 9. Phil Everett‚ 10. Steve Daly‚ 11. Dave Leonard‚ Subs: 12. Pete Varley (Pete Conning 76)‚ 14. Dominic Richardson (Steve Ovens 79)‚ 15. Luke Vinnicombe, 16. Richard Pears. 17. Stuart Smith SHORTWOOD UNITED 1. Mark Sumpter, 2. Kris Pritlove, 3. John Embling, 4. Adam Paul, 5. Phil Ward, 6. Craig Cole, 7. Lee Driver-Dickerson (captain), 8. Mike Green, 9. Steve Walker, 10. Richard Evans, 11. Matt Willenford, 12. Jamie Underwood (for Craig Cole 72), 14. Sam Jones, 15. Lloyd Vanstone (for Matt Willenford 72), 16. Olly McIlvenna, 17. Matthew Green (for Mark Sumpter, half-time) |
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