TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Nuneaton 1 - 0 Tiverton Town

Saturday 03/04/2010   Southern League Premier Division
Tivvy Archive

Tiverton Town slipped to a narrow defeat at title-chasing Nuneaton Town on Saturday. Rob Oddy’s penalty on the stroke of half time proved to be the difference between the sides, although Nuneaton might have won by a greater margin had it not been for the heroics of Steve Book in the Tiverton goal.

Book was in inspired form throughout and pulled of a number of fine saves, particularly in a second half in which the home side frequently broke from deep as Tiverton pressed forward and threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser.

Tiverton started strongly and looked comfortable in possession, pinning back Nuneaton for extended periods. But there was seldom any danger to Darren Acton in the home goal. Colin Marshall had the best chance for the Yellows inside the first minute but blasted a low shot wide of the target from the edge of the area.

And once Nuneaton managed to get a foothold in the match the action moved predominantly to the other end of the pitch. Mark Noon sent a shot well over the bar and James Armson cut in from the right but put his effort across the face of goal and wide.

In the final minute of the first half Oddy set up Lee Moore only for Book to parry his low shot around the post. And from the subsequent corner Tivvy failed to clear and Liam Head upended Noon in the area, allowing Oddy to coolly stroke home from the penalty spot.

Nuneaton were in control in the second half, and despite surrendering territorial advantage it was the home side that carved out the better chances, often hitting Tiverton on the counter attack.

Chris Dillon spurned a great chance to double the lead after 55 minutes when he rattled the crossbar following a flowing move from left to right that involved Armson and Noon, and Dillon was then denied by Book, the veteran goalkeeper standing up well to deny the Nuneaton forward in a one-on-one situation after substitute Adam Walker pierced the Tiverton defence.

Chances were few and far between for Tivvy, and Mark Saunders headed Marshall’s corner wide, while Marshall himself failed to test Acton from a free kick.

Mike Booth did well to recover and block Moore’s close range effort with ten minutes remaining, and Book excelled late on to thwart Noon, diving full-length to his right to tip a low drive out for a corner.

Defeat leaves Tiverton with very little breathing space just above the relegation places, and although the Yellows gave a good account against one of the league’s strongest outfits, manager Martyn Rogers will be concerned by the lack of a cutting edge up front as the season reached its climax.

Nuneaton Town: Darren Acton, Rob Oddy, Eddie Nisevic (Simon Forsdick 78), Mark Noon, Gareth Dean, Stuart Pierpoint, James Armson (Adam Walker 67), Kyle Storer, Chris Dillon (Justin Marsden 74), Lee Moore, Nathan Cameron
Goals: Oddy 45 (pen)
Booked: Dillon 42, Storer 80, Oddy 87, Noon 90
Sent off: None

Tiverton Town: Steve Book, Jake Wannell (Elliott Frear 70), Colin Marshall, Mike Booth, Nathan Rudge, Tom Gardner (Richard Pears 80), Jamie Hatch, Liam Head, Joe Bushin (Tom Piotrowski 67), Mark Saunders, Alex Faux
Booked: Wannell 31, Rudge 35
Sent off: None

Attendance: 803

This report ©2010 Tivvy Archive