TIVVY ARCHIVE

Uxbridge 2 - 1 Tiverton Town

It would be easy to concede that we have lost again and that it can't just be coincidence that we have been edged out one more time or self destructed. This defeat owed as much to the Goalkeeping exploits of Uxbridge's Fulham loanee Marco Underwood, as it did to any other reason. And infact John Ross also starred between the stick's for Asa Hall's men.

The change's were rang with Ross handed an opportunity to impress, after Matt

Wonnacott returned to his parent club and Corey Koerner also was back in the starting line up, with Dorchester loanee Harry Hutchinson moving on to Weymouth. Jack Kennell was another back in the Eleven, following a month away and Aiden Horne partnered Dan Koita up top.

Tiverton carved out the first threatening move of the game, when Kennell spread the ball out wide to Swann. The tricky winger surged into a crossing position and drove the ball tantalisingly across the face of goal. Underwood's partial intervention as he gloved away, was enough to ease the danger.

However, on five minutes the Yellows’ were already in arrears. George Moore being first on the scoresheet. Cutting in from the left he fired the ball past Ross, to give the Red's the lead. Minutes later with the home side on top, Ross sprang across his goal to foil Uxbridge with a fine fingertip save.

With some attractive possession football coming from Danny Edward’s side the Yellows’ had to contend with a difficult spell, as our skilful host's threatened to build on their opener. Tiverton slowly grew into the game and Ryan Keates’ was upended in the 18th minute with the home side stretched.

Then from the resulting free kick, some excellent interplay from Horne and Koerner released Koita who drove into the box and supplied a wonderful finish, to level thing's up. It was a really classy take from our number 9 and a beautifully constructed goal.Momentum was with Tivvy and from the restart they quickly turned over possession.

Gabe Billington was denied by Underwood, as the men in Yellow flooded forward. The play continued deep in Uxbridge's half and Keates’ was once again fouled. Horne was sent away down the wing and his wicked ball across the face of goal was brilliantly tipped away by the impressive Underwood. The danger wasn't over though for the host's and some back's to the wall defending was required, as crucial block's thwarted effort's from Swann and Kennell.

The pendulum though swung, as the Red's responded with some flowing, high intensity, probing football and Ross had to be alertly down to his post in the 25th minute to make a strong and important save.

A scrappy period then ensued, with Jacob Wellington being booked, just beyond the half hour mark for the visitor's, as both side's sought a half time advantage. It was Uxbridge though who were in the ascendancy before the break. Their slick and swift approach play, asking lot’s of question’s in the final third.

Koita also received a yellow card, tracking back, tripping the Red's player outside the box, on 35 minutes. The taker rolled to another player, whose shot deflected and reared invitingly up to Moore, whose accomplished side footed volley beat Ross and regained the lead for his side.

Uxbridge, the happier of the Two teams at the break and the scoreline was a fair reflection on the half. Good chances for the Yellows’, but the better overall display belonged to our hosts.

Assistant manager Steve Orchard uncharacteristically took issue with the Referee at half time and was sent off.

When the Two side's re-emerged, Swann appeared to be pulled back as he scampered down the Red's left, but the Referee adjudged otherwise in the 46th minute. The Yellow's then had to endure concerted pressure, but stood firm and a routine save from Ross was the closest the host's came to pressing home their advantage.

Asa Hall's men regrouped and responded stylishly, as they started to dominate with neat passing movements and lively play in the final third. With Uxbridge being pushed back, the pressure told in the form of a Red Card. Josh Boorn taking an early bath for a second bookable offence, in the 57th minute.

Would our host's numerical disadvantage have a bearing on the outcome of the game? First team coach David Steele in the absence of Steve Orchard responded by making a double substitution just before the hour mark. Karim Coulibaly fresh from scoring a brace for England Colleges against Wales Colleges replacing Keates and Aiden Horne making way for fellow frontman Louis Jagger Cane.

Predictably, Tiverton were soon on the front foot. Koita's loping stride and clever feet, prompted a few Uxbridge Player's to try and manfully stop him in his tracks, but despite a few little attempted trips, he stayed on his feet and found the newly introduced Coulibaly who narrowly missed with his header.

Koita was Proving a real threat for the Yellows’ and connected powerfully with a shot in the 65th minute. A desperate, sliced clearance behind, preventing him from evening thing's up. Taking the game by the scruff of the neck, Tivvy were once again undone by Underwood. This time Hall let fly and another outstanding reaction save at full stretch, kept our host's in front.

With less than 20 minutes remaining, a corner into the Red's area caused havoc and a series of last-ditch block's inside Uxbridge's Six yard box, keeping the Yellows’ at bay. With the visitor's committing bodies forward, Ross was left exposed, but he made a crucial save One-on-One, in the 78th minute

Zack Williams had entered proceedings shortly before that, as Koerner departed. But it was the Ten men who were threatening to take the game away from Tivvy in a few nervy minutes. The team though got back into their stride and Hall fired a shot wide of the post, from around 20 yard’s out in the 81st minute.

In the 84th minute Jagger Cane tested Underwood from range and yet again he produced a very good save. Although Tiverton's nemesis's catalogue of outstanding saves was completed by a Worldie. William's piledriver from the edge of the box, saw him instantly fling himself across to expertly palm away in the 87th minute in the blink of an eye.

There have been many times this season when we have been the architects of our own downfall, but this magnificent display from the young Fulham keeper was a massive and determining factor in West London and perhaps unfairly overshadows John Ross's performance, who was very good on the day.

There were Six minutes added at the end of the Ninety, but the Yellows’ were unable to fashion any chances of real note in the final ember's of the game.

Weather pending Tiverton are back in action on Tuesday night at the Slee Blackwell Stadium. They will play host to Wimborne, who they have yet to face this term. The Dorset side sit in 14th place and went down by the same scoreline, away at Evesham on Saturday. Let's get down to the ground and support the lads!

Tiverton: Ross, Kennell, Hall(90), Down(c), Koerner(75), Billington, Keates(59), Wellington, Swann, Horne(59), Koita
Subs: Jagger Cane(59), Williams(75), Coulibaly(59), Wood(90), Wilkins