TIVVY ARCHIVE

Tiverton Town 2 - 2 Exeter City

After twice coming from behind to a young Exeter City side, Jordan Rogers spectacular effort eight minutes before the interval cancelled out a goal eventually credited to Archie Collins and a Nick Hurst goal twelve minutes from time restored parity after Tiverton loanee Josh Key had put his parent club in front for a second time, the Yellows bowed out of the competition on penalties when the visitors keeper Felix Norman saved spot kicks from Harrison Davis and Ethan Phillips. With Martyn Rogers taking in the FA Cup replay between Dorchester and Wimborne, assistant manager Colin Nation rang the changes in personnel from those who had secured an FA Cup victory at Bridport on the previous Saturday and gave starts to Jordan Rogers, Ethan Phillips, Harrison Davis, Harry Evans and Archie Reay.

The visitors drew first blood on twenty minutes after the opening period had seen both sides play some neat, attractive football up until the final third of the pitch when a free kick close to the corner flag was swung in and eventually ended up in the back of the net with no-one really sure how it got there, before the goal was eventually credited to Archie Collins. The other Archie on the pitch, Reay, had a big hand in the Yellows drawing level when his over-head cross was plucked out of the sky by Jordan Rogers, making just his second start of the season, before he smacked a glorious effort, left footed, into the top corner with the help of the post.

The second half followed a similar pattern to that of the first, the visitors retook the lead on 63 minutes as Josh Key headed home a free kick from close range before Nick Hurst struck his second of the season as he had with his first to secure a two-all draw, left footed, 12 minutes from time after cutting in off the left flank to send the tie to a penalty shoot out. The Yellows recent record in penalty shoot outs does not make for great reading, defeats at Barnstaple in the Southern League Cup and at Bideford in last seasons Devon St. Lukes Cup readily spring to mind and when Felix Norman saved the Yellows second effort from Davis, the die was cast. Rogers then sent his kick crashing against the bar and Norman again saved from Phillips while the young visitors scored three out of their four.

Tiverton Town: Liam Armstrong, Nick Hurst, Callum Hall, Jamie Price, BEN MAMMOLA, Tom Gardner (Michael Landricombe 61), Ethan Phillips, Harrison Davis, Harry Evans (Levi Landricombe 65), Jordan Rogers, Archie Reay (River Allen 69)

Goals: Jordan Rogers 37, Nick Hurst 78

Attendance: 270