TIVVY ARCHIVE

Sholing 2 - 1 Tiverton Town

Relegation to Division 1 was confirmed, as Tiverton fell to defeat at Solent side Sholing. The writing had been on the wall for a considerable amount of time, but this still represented a sad day, for all Yellows’. A Nine season stay in Southern League Premier South has come to an end.

There have been some promising performances in recent weeks’, along with a couple of drubbings. No one can fault the effort or the undeniable individual qualities of the players, but over the season as a collective we have fallen short.

The Yellows’ came into this one on the back of a slim defeat at home against Evesham. The injury count stood at Three from that fixture, with Dean Moxey ruled out and Asa Hall and Toby Stephens both amongst the substitutes. Two plusses were the returning Gabe Billington and Exeter loanee Liam Cartwright to the starting line up, after recovering from their respective injuries.

Plymouth loanee’s Sam Lord and Fletcher Poole were also in the Matchday Eleven, with the unavailable Jack Kennell another absentee. Four changes are a lot to have to make, however this was another encouraging display from Tiverton.

Asa Hall’s men had to withstand some early concerted pressure from the Boatmen. They were grateful for some strong defending from Matt Wood and Corey Koerner in the 3rd minute, to Shepherd away and dispossess a Sholing attacker and then to John Ross for his razor sharp reflexes at point blank range, to deny James Roberts, a few minutes later.

Tivvy then blocked a Tommy Lee Higgs effort at close quarters and then the Yellows’ started to settle. Poole broke at pace with purpose and advanced deep into the home side's half, fashioning a chance for himself with a shift of feet. His shot warmed keeper Jack Turner's gloves.

In the 12th minute Billington demonstrated his worth to the team. Missing in recent weeks because of injury, he drove forward to the edge of the Boatmen’s box and provided a classy curling sidefooted finish into the bottom corner to give the Yellows’ the lead.

Tivvy, lifted by the early goal, had their tails up and were knocking the ball around convincingly. Horne and Cartwright exchanged passes and made good progress down Sholing’s left. However, a last ditch clearance stifled a dangerous cross into the area, with 20 minutes gone. 

Frustrations grew for the Play Off placed team and a forceful mistimed tackle on the skillful Coulibaly, saw the offender find his way into the Referee's book. It was free kicks in quick succession, as a slick Tiverton had clearly rattled the Hampshire side.

Although just before the half-hour mark it was all square. When Wood prodded the ball away from an attacker in the area into Ross’s arms, it was adjudged to be a back-pass. A Nine-Man wall was assembled inside the Six Yard box and the indirect free-kick was turned to Reece Wylie who bludgeoned a strike into the top corner.

Momentum switched to the Boatmen at that point. The busy Coulibaly on defensive duties conceded what was very much a team foul to halt the host's progress and then as they tried to exert their physical advantage, Wood was the recipient of a strong challenge.

In the 41st minute after some neat approach play from Sholing, Wylie screwed wide. Then a few minutes later Vinnie Tume struck a post. With half time beckoning there was another chance for Mason to head his side in front. The ball went along the goal-line though and the watchful Wellington cleared the danger.

It was a dominant end to the first period for the promotion hopefuls, but Tiverton resolutely held on and headed off for some half time refreshments with honours even.

There was plenty of endeavour from the Yellows’ as the game resumed. Playing at a high tempo and trying to restore their advantage, Aiden Horne's attempt from distance fizzed into the advertising boards behind the goal, as Asa Hall's men signalled their intent.

Going confidently about their business and with the Three pronged attacking threat of Horne, Coulibaly and Poole, it was the latter, young Plymouth prospect Poole who was the next to cause the Boatmen alarm, in the 52nd minute.

His good movement, a feature of his play, saw him sent through. Turner hurried off his line to meet him and  had to make a lunging tackle to keep his side's lead. I have been personally impressed by Poole who has more than adapted to the physical demands of this league and shown very good quality in the final third.

Higgs then swivelled and shot from just outside of the Tivvy box as our hosts applied pressure up the other  end. The effort may have cleared the bar, however there is no denying that the Southampton side are an accomplished footballing outfit and their flowing play was to the fore.

Aiden Horne had once again put a real shift in and not given his markers a moment’s peace, but with Twenty Five minutes of normal time still to play made way for Charlie Wright.

A point blank stop with his feet from Ross and some alert defending from Wellington was urgently needed when it opened up for the home side in the 70th minute. Poole relieved some of the pressure that was building when he embarked on a driving run and his quick footed carry saw him pull back for Wellington. 

Bizarrely, contrary to the laws of the game an offside flag was raised and prompted the Referee to give a baffling decision. 

In the 79th minute though with Sholing in the ascendancy, we went behind. Vinnie Tume made some space for himself as he proceeded into the area and supplied an emphatic driven finish, low into the corner of Ross's goal.

The Yellows’ were not to be deterred and Sholing were quick to recognise that we weren't giving this one up without a fight. Sam Lord was clattered into as Tiverton built from the back and an obvious yellow card was brandished.

Charlie Wright surged forward and his curling attempt wasn't far away from levelling things up in the 88th minute. Five minutes additional time was added and early Into it Coulibaly who had given another good performance was replaced by fellow Under 18 Harrison Jordan.

The predatory Poole was close to salvaging an equaliser at the death, when he got in between the centre back and the keeper, however Turner just beat his outstretched boot to gather and 2-1 is how it ended. 

There will be much to ponder between now and the end of the season, but there is still plenty of football yet to play before the curtain comes down on it. SIx games remain and a Devon Derby is next on the horizon for Tiverton, with the arrival of Plymouth Parkway on Easter Monday. 

A light may have gone out, but there will be quite a few chances for Asa Hall's young guns to shine before the campaign is over.

Tiverton: Ross(gk), Wilkins, Wood(c), Koerner, Lord, Billington, Cartwright, Wellington, Coulibaly(90), Poole, Horne(65)
Subs: Wright(65), Jordan(90), Hall, Stephens