TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Bromsgrove Rovers 0 - 1 Tiverton Town

Saturday 11/11/2000   Southern League First Division
Nigel Davis

Tivvy played the numbers game with right back Phil Everett retaining his accustomed number 9 shirt‚ Stuart Smith playing at left back disguised as a number 2 and Steve Ovens partnering Dave Toomey up front whilst sporting the sadly departed Dave Leonard´s number 11. Rovers are going through a torrid time both on and off the field. For a club that was runner-up in the Conference less than a decade ago‚ they are now dicing with oblivion. The sacking of George Rooney following the takeover of the club by Patrick Bannister has left a sour taste in many mouths but there is no doubt that our old friend Eric McManus is beginning to turns things round. As usual‚ the Tivvy faithful turned up in their droves to give Rovers their best crowd (home or away) of the season. Rovers put on a battling display in a game that‚ for purists‚ was a bore. However‚ it is all about boosting confidence for the home club and‚ for Tivvy‚ it was essential to continue the winning ways. And‚ so‚ both clubs were probably pleased with the outcome. Indeed‚ had Rovers been able to string a few more passes together‚ rather than falling by the wayside with woeful distribution‚ they might have troubled a well-organised Tivvy side.
As it happened‚ amidst the wind and the rain‚ one ghost was laid to rest and three points were taken back to Devon. Nick Marker‚ who had found the net in spectacular style in the corresponding game last season with a bizarre own goal‚ redeemed himself with a well taken pinpoint header following Phil Everett´s near post flick at a rare Tivvy corner.
The 24th minute goal came after Steve Ovens burst through down the left‚ his shot leading to the corner. It was a rare moment of inspiration in a dire game.
Indeed‚ it was just about the only thing worth talking about at half-time. Come the second half‚ Richard Cameron replaced Jamie Turpin in the home defence and he held the back four together with aplomb. He was always in the thick of the action and it made you wonder why he hadn´t started.
A couple of nasty incidents peppered the start of the second half with the worst being when Steve Daly felt the full force of Steve Frost as he was felled on the halfway line - after the ball had gone. A ticking-off was all that Frost got as Mr Shaun Ainge (Walsall) had only seen the incident out of the corner of his eye.
In a rare piece of Tivvy penetration‚ the wiry Ovens gambled with the onrushing Nore Gabbidon and‚ had it not been for the sticky pitch‚ the advancing goalkeeper would have been in trouble. However‚ his brave dive removed the danger and kept his side in with a chance of a share of the spoils.
At the other end‚ the lively Richard Burgess had a couple of chances to level but his first shot‚ on 67 minutes‚ flashed across the face of goal. Ten minutes later‚ he cut inside and hit a rising drive that only just cleared Paul Edwards´ crossbar. The only Tivvy shot on target in the second period came as late as the 81st minute when Dave Toomey hit the ball straight at Gabbidon. Two minutes later‚ Marc Burrows was booked for a late challenge on Pete Conning although he attempted to convince the referee of mitigating circumstances by showing him his ripped cuff.
With the 90th minute upon us‚ Dom Richardson came on for Toomey but had little chance to make an impression. But at least he got a feel of the pitch. Tivvy are now beginning to show that they can grind out results in inclement conditions and will have to once again dig deep on Tuesday when they revisit the nightmare pitch that belongs to Weston-super-Mare. However‚ with more rain forecast‚ the tie has to be in jeopardy. Scheduled for the same night is the delayed replay between Rugby United and Aylesbury‚ the winners of which visit Ladysmead in the FA Umbro Trophy Second Round.

Line up: 1 Paul Edwards‚ 2 Stewart Smith‚ 3 Neil Saunders‚ 4 Paul Tatterton‚ 5 Nick Marker‚ 6 Scott Rogers‚ 7 Pete Conning‚ 8 Dave Toomey‚ 9 Phil Everett‚ 10 Steve Daly, 11 Steve Ovens,

Subs: 12 Dominic Richardson (Dave Toomey 90), 14 Luke Vinnicombe. 15 Martyn Grimshaw.

BROMSGROVE ROVERS: 1 Nore Gabbidon, 2 Joe Beard, 3 Steve Ulfig (captain), 4 Quentin Townsend, 5 Steve Frost, 6 Jamie Turpin, 7 Mark Benbow, 8 Richard Burgess, 9 Craig Pountney,10 Marc Burrows, 11 Andy Biddle, 12 Richard Cameron (for Jamie Turpin, half time), 14 Russell Phillpot, 15 Chris Bates.

This report ©2000 Nigel Davis