TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Tiverton Town 3 - 3 Metropolitan Police

Saturday 06/10/2018   FA Cup
Simon Ellis

For the neutral and for a first ever meeting between the two sides, what a match. From the Yellows point of view though, to take the lead on three occasions and not convert that into a victory, that said a huge amount of credit must go to the visitors for their never-say-die attitude, and go straight into the hat for the next round draw must go down as an opportunity missed and they must now endure a long mid-week cross-country trek to try to complete the job. Tom Bath headed the Yellows in front early on, the visitors replied instantly through Max Blackmore and Jordan Rogers fired the hosts in front again just before the break. Blackmore equalised again just after the hour mark, Man of the Match Rogers headed in his second and the Yellows third thirteen minutes from time before Jack Mazzone sent the tie to a replay at Imber Court four minutes from the end of a pulsating cup match.

The Yellows were without Exeter City loanees Josh Key and Joel Randall, who had both been selected for another cup tie by their parent club, so Harrison Davis filled in at full back and Tom Gardner was recalled at centre half in the two changes from the previous weeks impressive 4-1 over Basingstoke Town while the visitors, also on the back of an impressive 4-1 win, over Taunton Town, were unchanged. The match, from a Tiverton point of view, couldn’t have started any better. Just four minutes were on the clock when they took the lead for the first time. Levi Landricombe released Hurst down the right-hand side, his pace and trickery got him away from Met. Police full back Mekhail McLaughlin and Tom Bath headed home his cross at the near post. Their joy though was short lived as Blackmore scored the first of his brace, tapping home from close range after Ethan Chislett`s shot hit a post and rolled across the goal line just two minutes later. Both sides continued to create chances throughout the half, Levi Landricombe unselfishly squared to Bath after racing clear, but Bath was crowded out as he tried to get his shot away while at the other end Armstrong had to be at his best to deny Blackmore, Mazzone and Jonathan Hippolyte before Rogers restored the Yellows advantage two minutes before the break. The danger seemed minimal as Rogers picked up the ball wide on the left but his pace and trickery worked an opening and he cut inside and beat Tom Williams at his near post.

Back came the visitors in the second half and eventually drew level for the second time just past the hour mark. Blackmore won a corner after pressuring Mammola before the giant centre forward climbed highest to nod home his second of the afternoon from Alex Fishers pinpoint delivery and only an outstanding block from Mammola and a wayward header from Blackmore prevented the Police from taking the lead before, with a little less than quarter of an hour remaining, the Yellows retook the lead for the third time. River Allen, playing in his final match before re-joining Truro City, delivered an accurate free kick after Michael Landricombe had been tripped which Jordan Rogers emphatically headed into the top corner and just a few minutes later Rogers had a great chance to seal the victory and a hattrick after he raced clear, but at full stretch, Williams denied him with a save that kept the visitors alive and four minutes from time they drew level again through Jack Mazzone. The prolific centre forward, who had been superbly denied by Armstrong in the first half, sent the travelling fans home the happier of both sets as he headed home a Josh Webb free kick at the back post to ensure the first ever meeting of the two sides will be quickly followed by number two to confirm who will make it through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.


Tiverton Town: Liam Armstrong, Harrison Davis (Callum Hall 88), Nick Hurst, Jamie Price, Ben Mammola, Tom Gardner, Michael Landricombe, River Allen, Tom Bath (Ethan Phillips 77), Levi Landricombe, Jordan Rogers
Goals: Tom Bath 4, Jordan Rogers 43, 77

Attendance: 338


This report ©2018 Simon Ellis