The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Tiverton Town 2 - 0 Bedford TownSaturday 12/12/2009 Southern League Premier Division | Tivvy Archive |
Tiverton Town’s mini blip turned into a mini revival when Bedford made a long a pointless journey to Devon a fortnight ago. In what was certainly not the most inspiring of matches the Yellows took a victory that was comfortable on the outside, yet workmanlike and gritty enough for manager Martyn Rogers to praise his team’s approach to the afternoon. But while the three points were a welcome addition to the small total previously accumulated, and the victory lifted the spirits of the squad, the truth is that Bedford were a poor outfit and on their showing at Ladysmead will do well to avoid the drop in April. Tiverton started well, albeit needing to adjust the foot-to-goal radar as shots from both Alex Faux and Tom Gardner bobbled harmlessly wide of the charismatic Mike Armitt’s left upright. And after that, two efforts inside the opening six minutes, there was little to cheer at either end as the game quickly degenerated into a battle of two five-man midfields. The fifth man in Tivvy’s middle line was Nathan Rudge who performed well in an unaccustomed roll in front of the back four, and twice he powered forward only for his final touch to confirm he is really a defender. A flurry of activity half way through the first period garnered no goals as Joe Bushin shot well over from well out, and Gardner’s header – from a Colin Marshall free kick – was helped back to Armitt via the boot of Tom Hole. At the other end Graham Clark fired a shot straight at Steve Book, easy pickings, and Craig Daniel missed the target as Hole’s deep free kick caused a degree of commotion. There was still time before the whistle for Bushin to plant a header into Armitt’s gloves at the end of Tivvy’s best move of the half involving Marshall and Sam Malsom, while Ian Draycott quickly escaped at the other end but his vicious swerving shot went a foot or two wide. And that was all for the first forty-five, little fluency and little real danger to either goal. But just a minute or two after the restart there was danger as Malsom marauded forward, intt the area and then onto his posterior. The surge through the inside left channel had left Jon Darby lagging and Hole came across to challenge, only managing to bundle Malsom to the ground. Marshall took the responsibility from the spot and although Armitt got a firm hand on his shot there was too much power and Tiverton were ahead. Tivvy had their tails up and almost doubled the lead five minutes later. Adam Faux was chopped down by veteran Eddie Lawley, Elliot Frear set up Marshall to cross, and Armitt was just in time to get his fingertips to the ball as Rudge waited to ease the ball into the net. However, it wasn’t long before the Yellows made their superiority pay, and the build up to the goal was almost identical to Bushin’s strike at Halesowen a couple of weeks earlier. Jamie Hatch swept the ball wide to Frear on the left, Frear crossed early, and Bushin was on the end of it. This time though it was with his head and the ball looped over Armitt and into the top corner. Two-nil, and that was plenty enough against an Eagles side that lacked not only a cutting edge but just about everything else that would have been required to get back into the match. Frear shot over at one end following good work from Malsom, Draycott saw a shot deflect of Rudge and behind for a corner, and five minutes from time the Bedford top scorer blazed a shot high and handsome. Neither goalkeeper was troubled thereafter as the Ladysmead pitch became heavier and less conducive to free-flowing football, and the points were well and truly in the bag. Tiverton Town: Steve Book, Adam Faux, Alex Faux (Josh Ford 61), Mike Booth, Nathan Rudge, Tom Gardner, Jamie Hatch, Colin Marshall, Joe Bushin, Sam Malsom (Adam Mortimer 85), Elliott Frear (Mark Saunders 79) Goals: Marshall 48, Bushin 58 Booked: None Sent off: None Bedford Town: Mike Armitt, Tom Hole, Eddie Lawley, Rob Miller (Paul Draycott 79), Jon Darby, Stuart Wall, Craig Daniel, Callum Lewis (Nat Peacock 46), Graham Clark, Ian Draycott, Jamie Cole Booked: Lawley 54 Sent off: None Attendance: 252 |
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