TIVVY ARCHIVE

Tiverton Town 1 - 1 Bideford

From time to time the story of a football match can be summed up very simply by the Man of the Match choice, a very apt story line for Tuesday's draw in the Devon derby with Bideford. On a bitter winters evening where only 3 of the 9 supposed League matches survived the weather, Joe Perry's heroics and `thou shall not pass` attitude ensured the visitors would make the short journey home with just one point. Levi Landricombe scored his 44th goal for Tiverton on his 50th appearance only for Bideford to equalise almost immediately, Kevin Squire scoring from 12 yards after a handball.

The visitors, boasting several ex-Yellows in their squad, were faster out of the traps and Perry had his palms stung by a long range James Richards free kick and eventual scorer Squire fired narrowly wide after some good build up play. Tiverton were controlling posession and eventually Landricombe had young Bideford keeper Josh Colwill diving at full stretch to keep out his 25 yard effort.

Landricombe then released Nick Hurst minutes later with a delightful right foot volleyed pass down the right, only for his progress to be cut short by Stephen Reed, with Tivvy players and fans convinced the offence was inside the area, the referee awarded a free kick. It mattered not as Landricombe expertly curled his 16th League goal of the season into the far corner. Barely a minute had passed before the visitors were given the chance to restore parity, a close range effort was handled after Perry had kept out Matt Andrews initial effort, Kevin Squire despatching the resultant spot kick.

Tivvy had two decent shouts for a penalty of their own before half time, Teigan Rosenquest's cross 'handled' by ex Willand centre half Kai Fisher, and Tom Bath was felled by a challenge from Matt Bye, both incidents waved away. Steve Kingdon had an effort cleared off the line on the hour for Tivvy, whilst Perry did brilliantly to claw away Billy Tucker's left foot strike as both  sides went in search of a winner.

Jameis Short and Price both had great efforts go narrowly wide, before in the final minutes the visitors were incensed, convinced they should have had a second spot kick for another hand ball after a high James Richards delivery caused chaos in the defence,  yet despite the best efforts of both sides, a point apiece a fair reflection on the match.

Tiverton Town: Joe Perry, Michael Landricombe, Nick Hurst, Ben Mammola, Steve Kingdon (Ben Carter 65), Tom Gardner, Jamie Short, Rob Norrish, Tom Bath (Glynn Hobbs 65), Levi Landricombe, Teigan Rosenquest (Jamie Price 75)
Goal: L Landricombe 18

Attendance: 244