TIVVY ARCHIVE

Farnborough 2 - 0 Tiverton Town

Playing away at the league leaders was never going to be an easy task for Tiverton, particularly given their up and down form recently, and the trip to Farnborough proved to be every bit as difficult as would have been expected. If not for a string of excellent saves from Lewis Williams, the final 2-0 defeat could have been heavier, and while there were phases of the match where Tivvy more than held their own, the outcome underlined that there is still plenty of work to be done if the Yellows are to charge back up the table.

Without both first-choice centre backs Town brought in Alfie Pond to partner Craig Woodman, and the pair were in for a busy afternoon as Farnborough made the bulk of the running throughout the game. Williams was called on to pull off three fine saves in a goalless first half, and when he was not able to save the day, it was left to Aaron Dawson and Louis Morison to make crucial interceptions. At the other end there was little to get excited about, although Matt Wright had an early header saved by Dante Baptiste, and Andy Watkins volleyed wide.

The second period produced more of the same, with the home side very much in the ascendency. Another strong save from Williams kept the game locked, another header from Wright was saved by Baptiste, and a deflection off Dan Hayfield saw the ball cannon off the Tivvy post. But eventually the pressure was too much, and another deflection this time was of benefit to the league leaders, with Seth Owens’ long-range shot eventually finding the net. Jordan Lam, fresh off the bench, might have equalised against the run of play, but his header was off target, and following one further sharp save from Williams, Farnborough sealed the points with a ninetieth-minute penalty converted by Louis Paget.

Farnborough: Dante Baptiste, Alfie Saunders, John Oyenuga, Elis Watts (Louis Paget 76), Richard Orlu, Seth Owens, Ricky Holmes (Michael Fernandes 90+1), Sam Deering, David Pratt, Paul Hodges (Harry Cooksley 77), Selim Saied
Goals: Owens 68, Paget 90p

Tiverton Town: Lewis Williams, Kyle Egan (Nelson Iseguan 70), Craig Woodman, Aaron Dawson, Alfie Pond, Alex Moyse (Chris Shephard 74), Louis Morison, Dan Hayfield, Matt Wright, Andy Watkins (Jordan Lam 70), Joe Belsten

Attendance: 454