TIVVY ARCHIVE

Tiverton Town 1 - 2 Salisbury

Tiverton fell to another home defeat to further accentuate their early-season troubles, this time to a Salisbury side who had been beaten in the FA Cup just eleven days earlier. As cruel as the manner of the defeat was, there could be few complaints on the balance of the game, with Salisbury looking the more likely to make things happen for long periods of the match.  Yemi Odubade put the visitors ahead just before the break, only for Gary Warren to bring Tivvy level five minutes into the second half. The deciding goal, deep into stoppage time, carried with it a huge element of luck for Salisbury, as Joe Belsten put the ball into his own net, leaving the Yellows a lowly seventeenth in the league standings.

Just four minutes into the match Sam Ashton struck the crossbar with a shot which took a slight deflection, and Antonio Diaz twice headed over the top as Salisbury pressed forward. A similar fate befell Marvin Brooks, while Lewis Williams needed to be on his guard to thwart Diaz again. Not that it was a totally one-way affair; Town, on the occasions when the final pass was executed suitably, had a decent sniff. Jordam Lam came closest for the hosts with a shot which Sam Roberts was able to clear off the line, and Austen Booths effort from twenty yards or so was not too far wide of the mark. Nevertheless, there were too many overhit through-balls, and a lack of creativity in the final third from Tiverton, and the side from Wiltshire deservedly went in ahead at the break thanks to Odubade’s crisp effort after he had cut in from his berth on the right.

Tivvy showed character to dig in as the second half started, the reward being Warren’s second goal for the club, and Tivvy’s 800th in the Southern League Premier, as Dan Hayfield’s corner was headed past Marcus Beauchamp in the Sarum goal. That strike ensured that Salisbury were not able to continue their dominance and run away with the game, but thereafter scoring chances of a gilt-edged nature were very much at a premium. Lam and Matt Wright both missed the target for Tiverton, Ashton did the same at the other end of the pitch, and the match became increasingly disjointed and niggly. A disallowed goal seemed to have denied Salisbury the full quota of points five minutes from time, and then Hayfield’s rasping shot very nearly turned the tables completely, but the ball flew over Beauchamp and over his crossbar. But if Town were happy to settle for a draw at this juncture, there were to end the evening disappointed, as Belsten was unable to do anything other that divert a cross past Williams and into his own net.

Sure, Salisbury deserved the victory, and certainly Tiverton lacked the knowhow and creativity to carve through the defence of a decent side. It has been a tricky start to the season, hampered by injuries (and suspensions too, but that is not a matter of luck). In particular Chris Shephard’s recent absence has been felt, and left manager Scott Rogers searching for a system that best fits the players available. Kyle Egan’s return to fitness could prove hugely valuable and it may well be that he sees himself deployed in a more advanced position than he usually is, while the steady stream of loan signings … well, they can either prove to be game-changers, or they could further disrupt what little continuity the team currently has. One way or the other, they are needed at this stage simply to ensure Tiverton can field a team. Rogers will certainly be earning his money over the next few weeks, and all Yellows supporters will be hoping that the spate of injuries ceases so we can get back to a level of consistency that individually and collectively it is clear the team is capable of.

Tiverton Town: Lewis Williams, Joe Belsten, Jordan Lam, Aaron Dawson (Louis Morison 65), Gary Warren, Austen Booth, Finley Craske, Dan Hayfield, Matt Wright, Olaf Koszela (Theo Simpson 87), Andy Watkins (Kyle Egan 56)
Goal: Warren 52
Booked: None
Sen off: None

Salisbury: Marcus Beauchamp, Charlie Davies, Josh Sommerton, Ollie Knowles, Sam Roberts, Jack Ball, Manny Odubade (Devon Arnold 86), Charlie Kennedy, Sam Ashton, Marvin Brooks (Ben Starr 64), Antonio Diaz (Gbenga Jubrill 80)
Goals: Odubade 42, Belsten 90+2og
Booked: Ball, Kennedy, Knowles, Beauchamp
Sent off: None

Attendance: 326