I am not convinced that Barry McConnell slept well on Monday night. Yes, he scored twice from the spot to ensure that his current employers got another one over on his previous employers, but such is his ingrained misery that it is difficult to imagine anything that could possibly make him happy.
Throughout his Tiverton life he spent most of every match complaining about something or other and he hasn’t changed since swapping Yellow for the White or Truro. When he isn’t rolling around in feigned agony he is badmouthing the referee because he thought he should have had a throw-in, and when he isn’t badmouthing the referee he is standing about as if the last thing he needs to do is move quickly and dislodge his halo.
What is most annoying is that when he actually applies himself he is a damn good player, and his expertise from the penalty spot knows no bounds. I an match that the referee never gained control, McConnell kept his nerve, controlled his heart rate and sent Ryan Draper the wrong way on the stroke of half time to give Truro a lead they deserved after pummelling the Tiverton rearguard incessantly without reward.
And two minutes after Adam Mortimer had nicked an equaliser that had appeared unlikely McConnell did the same again, consummately converting from twelve yards to restore the White Tigers’ advantage.
Tiverton showed enough character to suggest that the defeat at Cambridge was out of the system and in a pulsating second half that was strewn with peeps from the referee’s whistle the Yellows could consider themselves unlucky not to get out of this Bank Holiday clash with a point. Unlucky is perhaps an understatement; Truro players, McConnell and all, outfoxed the man in the middle with a series of cute trips and slips, and their second penalty was as harsh on Tivvy as it was lucky for the visitors from the Duchy.
That is just the way it goes; Chris Vinnicombe was as pragmatic as always at the final whistle, comforted with the knowledge that his charges really shouldn’t be able to take on the big hitters in the league considering the resources available. But Tiverton must take on these big hitters if they are to remain in the same league, particularly at Ladysmead.
There was no lack of heart from Tivvy – there shouldn’t be when only one goal separates the teams – but despite their best efforts Martin Rice had a relatively quiet afternoon, doing well to gather one teasing cross from Joe Bushin and making a couple of solid saves, but otherwise he was unstretched. After a hearty defensive performance to banish the memories of Cambridge two days earlier the emphasis switched to the lack of a cutting edge up front. Tivvy are still reeling from the loss of Colin Marshall and the creativity he brought to the team. Bushin will score goals given the chance and has, along with Mortimer, worked his socks off for little reward. If it isn’t one thing its another!
Tiverton Town: Ryan Draper, Jak Martin, Chris Vinnicombe (Jamie Densham 85), Liam Ellis, Adam Faux, Tom Gardner (Russell Jee 80), David Steele, Mark Saunders (Perry Carpenter 45), Joe Bushin, Adam Mortimer, Alex Faux
Goal: Mortimer 60
Booked: Rice, Clay
Sent off: None
Truro City: Martin Rice, Barry McConnell, Martin Watts, Steve Adams, Lee Hodges (Jake Ash 46), Joe Broad, Andrew Taylor, Danny Clay Andy Watkins, Les Afful, Dan Smith
Booked: Martin
Sent off: None
Attendance: 496
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