The unofficial archives of Tiverton Town Football Club
Exmouth Town 3 - 3 Tiverton TownTuesday 22/10/2002 Devon St Luke's Cup | John Reidy |
If I had a shilling ( five pence since Sterling was decimated) for every time I was told in my childhood days‚ ´I hope you´ve learned your lesson´‚ then I would undoubtedly be a lot richer than I am now. The strange thing‚ though‚ was that the words were seldom delivered by those that were entrusted with giving me lessons. I can´t ever recall a teacher uttering the phrase as we filed past him or her in orderly fashion at the end of a school day. On reflection‚ perhaps it was that teachers may have been responsible for cramming techniques and facts into their pupils (students in today´s PC jargon‚ no doubt) but seldom in those days ´taught´ any of the real lessons of life. And perhaps that is why some people are unable to recognise a lesson when they are given one. I hope that such cannot be said of the players of Tiverton Town after this visit to a chill and windy seaside. The Yellows were given a lesson in spirit‚ competitiveness‚ determination and just about every quality required of a football team other than skill. Hardly surprising that last point‚ when one considers that Exmouth ply their trade three levels below Tivvy in the pyramid. Lesson No.1. was all about adaptation. The conditions were far from ideal as a near gale force wind howled the length of the field. It was at Exmouth´s back as the game started‚ carrying the ball forward at a rare rate of knots from the merest touch. For the home side this was a big game and they were up for it so not surprisingly they were prepared to chase everything that moved‚ no matter at what speed. For the Yellows defence it meant that the ball came on to them faster than if they had been playing some Premiership side‚ giving them less time to control it‚ less time to consider their options when and if they did. With just six minutes gone it was Nathan Rudge that received the first lesson from the combination of conditions and eager opponent. Wrong footed by both‚ Nathan left Paul Edwards coming for a back pass that never arrived and the pair of them could only watch in frustration as Exmouth´s Jamie Densham poked the ball gently into the net. The home side didn´t try to protect their lead‚ they sought to increase it whilst they were on top and had the benefit of the air current. Six minutes after their first they did it again. Break down the right‚ high cross curling in on the wind‚ and Adam Russell in acres of space taking the free header chance to put his side two in front. Tivvy were struggling to construct any forward movements until they realised that the only way to get the ball moving towards the home goal was to either carry it in that direction or to play it low. At last in the 22nd minute they won their first corner. Paul Chenoweth swung over what under normal circumstances would have been an inswinger. The strength of the wind straightened it out and Antony Lynch headed firmly past Simon Harris in the Exmouth goal. At two - one down there was rekindled hope among the predominantly yellow wearing spectators. The second lesson appeared to have been learnt. Play the ball on the green stuff‚ or carry it forward. Just two minutes later the truth of the matter was underlined. Jamie Mudge picked up the ball halfway inside the Exmouth half and carried it forward‚ riding the defensive challenges as he reached the edge of the penalty area before finding just enough room to swing his boot and shoot Tivvy level. Lesson three. Someone has to do something to make the goals come. The fans were happier for a while. The yellows‚ they thought‚ had got it all together and would now cruise to victory. Lesson four: The old one about eggs‚ chickens and counting. And lesson five came from Exmouth. When things go wrong‚ you keep going. The home side continued to have most of the ball and were doing most of the attacking. They chased‚ they challenged‚ they gave their all. Even when Tiverton re awoke after a doze that took them almost to half time they were unable to find a way through in a five minute spell of sustained pressure immediately before the break‚ though that was partially due to one spectacular save by Harris from a fierce Richard Pears drive. The second half mirrored the first in as much as the side playing with the wind had the upper hand. Tiverton attacked‚ Exmouth defended. And the home side defended well. As swirling cross followed swirling cross it was inevitably a blue shirted player who´s head made contact to either clear the line or give a chance to regroup by putting the ball out for a corner. It was reminiscent of the onslaught mounted by Weymouth against Tivvy´s nine men earlier in the season. Just as in that game Tiverton relied on the occasional break‚ so did Exmouth as they fought to stay in the game. On the hour mark Nathan Rudge collected a yellow card‚ and as the frustration grew Scott Rogers did likewise. Twice in a minute Harris was beaten but was able to see the status quo preserved by team-mates clearing off the line. Into the last five minutes and extra time looked inevitable. Not exactly the required preparation for Tiverton´s weekend excursion to Barnet. Exmouth manager Russ Wilson took a final gamble and played his trump card‚ one he had been hoping to save for the weekend top of the table ´crunch´ with Torrington. Striker Richard Hope was brought on to see if he could work that little moment of magic that might bring glory to the underdogs. Within a minute it looked like a wasted gamble. Lynch away down the right wing forced his way to the line and hoiked in a cross. For once it was a Tiverton head that made contact - and not the tallest at that. Mudge planted his header wide of Harris for Tiverton´s third and‚ we all thought‚ winning goal. Eggs and chickens again. Exmouth hadn´t read the script that had them down as fighting losers. One last effort. Lesson Six. Fight to the final whistle. Into injury time we went as the blue shirted home side threw themselves forward‚ worked the ball down their left‚ across into the goalmouth. Scramble‚ confusion‚ bodies and legs everywhere‚ including trump card Hope. And that is just what he provided for his team as he got the final touch that saw the ball in the net and the flow of fans out of the ground thrown into reverse as the final whistle sounded on a 3-3 scoreline. Extra time. First period. Tivvy playing with the wind at their backs. Repeat of second period of normal time except that there were fewer chances - and Steve Peters was given a lesson in self control by the referee who showed him the red card after Steve had retaliated to a bit of shove and push with an elbow. Second Period. Exmouth created two chances to take the tie. Densham was put through with only Edwards to beat but rushed his shot and put it wide‚ and then Eddy saved well from Richard Spiller. Score at 2 hours - still 3-3. Penalties. Exmouth. Edwards saves. Tiverton. Nancekivell scores off underside of crossbar. Exmouth. Edwards saves. Tiverton. Harris saves from Lynch. Exmouth. Andy Widger scores. Tiverton. Harris saves from Mudge. Exmouth. Neil Saunders crashes the ball off crossbar and out. Tiverton. Cheno scores. Exmouth. Harris is given the opportunity to reinforce his standing as the Exmouth man of the match. He hits his kick firmly enough but Edwards turns it onto the bar and out. Tiverton are through to a tie at home to Plymouth Argyle in the next round. Exmouth are left to consider what might have been. The home side took almost all the credit on the night. They showed tenacity‚ commitment‚ and self belief. If Tivvy show the same qualities on Saturday then they will please their fans. Please please. Tiverton Town: 1. Paul Edwards‚ 2. Phil Everett‚ 3. Paul Chenoweth, 4. Steve Peters, 5. Nathan Rudge, 6. Rob Cousins, 7. David Steele, 8. Jamie Mudge, 9. Richard Pears, 10. Scott Rogers, 11.Antony Lynch. Subs: 12. Steve Ovens (Pears,91), 14. Danny Haines (Steele,46), 15. Kevin Nancekivell (Rogers,91), 16. Steve Winter, 17. Jason Rees. Cards: Yellow: Rudge (59), Rogers (75). Red: Peters (101). Exmouth Town: 1. Simon Harris, 2. Danny Burwood, 3. Neil Saunders, 4. Jason Down, 5. Steve Taylor, 6. Charlie Gray, 7. Andy Widger, 8. Richard Spiller, 9. Adam Russell, 10. Jamie Densham, 11. Paul Pocock. Subs: 12. Shaun Moore (Spiller,78), 14. Steve May (Burwood,54), 15. Richard Hope (Russell,87), 16. Russell Wilson. Cards: Yellow: Moore (84). Referee: M. Mularkey (Exeter). |
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