TIVVY ARCHIVE

The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club


Tiverton Town 6 - 2 Hitchin Town

Saturday 10/12/2005   Southern League Premier Division
Chris Bell

Before this game started a grounds man was heard to say in the clubhouse that Tivvy were due to give someone a hiding. At five o´clock Hitchin knew it was them as the home side ran rampant in the second half to win 6-2.

With Milsom injured and Croft‚ Booth and Goff on the bench‚ Winter and new loanee Clay from Exeter City started in defence. Tiverton were first out of the blocks‚ Bale forcing a good save from Wilmot from the first of many excellent passes from the influential Holloway. On fifteen minutes it was Holloway´s pass again that found Mudge who calmly lobbed the advancing keeper. Pears then dinked a clever ball past his defender and forced a good save from Wilmot. Hitchin´s first serious threat came from a mistake from Winter that let in an opponent on goal‚ but the ever reliable Ovendale was there‚ rushing out to block the chance. Almost immediately Nogan made it 2-0. His initial fierce shot was beaten out‚ but when the ball finally came to him again he made no mistake.

Tiverton were starting to break loose and a thirty-yard thunderbolt from Mudge was only kept out by Wilmot at the second attempt. Then from nowhere Hitchin pulled one back when Cavill´s shot‚ which was heading for the corner flag‚ hit Winter and looped up and over Ovendale. Five minutes later it was all square as Hayes cut in on the goal line and crossed for Sozzo to score from close range. For the remainder of the half Tiverton were hanging on and the half time whistle came none too soon.

Any fears the home fans had seemed to have been quickly allayed at the start of the second half when Mudge beat his defender in the box only to be hauled down. Winter stepped up to take the kick. It wasn´t a bad penalty by any means but Wilmot guessed right to pull off a good save. However‚ Mudge wasn´t to be denied and when Ampadu threaded a delightful pass into his path he beat Mills on the outside and thumped in his second goal. Tiverton´s commitment and tackling was a feature of the afternoon epitomised by Bale and Holloway winning countless balls in midfield.

Hitchin were better than a number of teams seen at Ladysmead this season and still posed a threat‚ with Hammonds missing a free header from a corner. Tivvy weren´t to be denied and it was Mudge´s turn to act as provider breaking down the right to finish with a near post cross that Holloway emphatically converted. Within minutes there was a repeat performance. Bale again won a ball in his own half‚ executed a clever turn and sent a long ball out to Mudge. Down the right wing‚ near post cross‚ Holloway converts 5-2.

All that was left was for Holloway to return the complement with a wonderful through ball that took out three defenders and put Mudge in on the goalie to complete his hat trick. To give Hitchin credit they kept going ably supported by their travelling fans but they were just unlucky to arrive at Ladysmead the day the Tivvy goal machine clicked.

Tiverton:

Ovendale‚ Winter(Croft)‚ Davies‚ Clay‚ Gardner‚ Nogan(Booth)‚ Ampadu‚ Bale‚ Pears‚ Holloway(Hambly)‚ Mudge

Subs not used: Goff‚ Fowler

Attendance: 442

MOM: Mudge

This report ©2005 Chris Bell