TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Weston-super-Mare 3 - 2 Tiverton Town

Tuesday 22/10/2019   Southern League Premier Division
Simon Ellis

Nick McCootie, the scourge of the Yellows strikes again. For those of you that don’t recognise the name it was he that almost single-handedly dismantled the Yellows in a Division One play-off semi-final as Paulton Rovers, with two goals from said striker, won three-one at Ladysmead at the end of April back in 2014. Fast forward five and a bit years and he was at it again with two assists and a goal before a late second caution ended his evening slightly earlier than planned, as the Yellows went down by the odd goal in five for their second defeat in three league matches.

Scott Laird opened the scoring after just two minutes from the penalty spot but by the time the first half whistle was blown the Yellows led. Josh Key tapped home a cross just five minutes after falling behind and Man of the Match Jordan Bastin gave the Yellows the lead for the only time of the night just after half an hour had been played. Back came the hosts though and almost straight from the re-start Charlie Madden tapped home the equaliser before McCootie headed home the winner twelve minutes from the end.
The Yellows kept faith with the starting XI that had seen off Swindon Supermarine last time out and Tyler Elliott and Luke Mortimore were named amongst the substitutes after missing the Swindon win while Weston, who had lost two-one at Met Police previously, made one change as Jake Mawford replaced former Yellows striker Owen Howe who was named amongst their substitutes.

As disastrous starts go this was up there. A Michael Landricombe header back towards Williams with barely two minutes gone was never going to reach its intended target, McCootie nipped in and with Williams committed to the challenge, the decision to award the hosts a penalty was an obvious and easy one and Scott Laird sent Williams the wrong way from twelve yards but the Yellows were quickly into their stride and back on terms though. Smerdon and Allen worked an opening down the left and eventually Bastin drilled over a low cross and presented an unmarked Josh Key the simplest of finishes to draw the sides level and then Bastin then went from goal provider to goal-scorer on thirty two with probably the easiest, most gift-wrapped goals he`s ever scored. Allen swung in a free-kick from deep which seemed easier for Weston keeper Purnell to catch rather than punch but he attempted the latter, got it horribly wrong and Bastin was on hand to head the Yellows in front from close in.

As good as the visitors were in the first forty-five minutes, barring the opening couple, the second period was stark contrast. No shots on target and caught out by the hosts ability to break at speed on several occasions, the first of which brought about the equaliser on forty-eight as chief tormentor McCootie sent Charlie Madden through on goal and the substitute rounded Williams and tapped home his first for the Seagulls. Bastin drilled a long range effort narrowly over and Pierce Mitchell was agonisingly close to restoring the Yellows lead with a curled effort but that was about as close as they came to scoring again before McCootie headed home the winner twelve minutes from time before he picked up his second booking of the night and the mandatory early shower and despite being a man light, the hosts held on to claim all three points and maintain their unbeaten home record this season.


Tiverton Town: Lewis Williams, Pierce Mitchell, Noah Smerdon, George Nancekivell, Michael Landricombe, Jordan Dyer, Steve Colwell (Tyler Elliott 61), River Allen, Jared Lewington, Josh Key, Jordan Bastin (Luke Mortimore 78)
Goals: Key 2 Bastin 32

Attendance: 530


This report ©2019 Simon Ellis