A Superb First Half for the Yellows, Let Down by it's Sequel.

Match Report

Easter Monday April 6th

At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

Tiverton Town 2

Hall 9  Billington 45+1

Plymouth Parkway 3

C. Garside pen 17 R.Garside 63 Thompson 79

Att: 380

Arguably the most complete half that the Yellows’ have produced at home all season was a joy to watch in the accompaniment of uninterrupted blue skies. An average showing in the second half allowed our visitors back into the game and underlined why we are, where we are.

Brooklyn Wilkins (Viv Curtis)

Parkway's line up included Toby Down, our captain a short while back and players from season’s past; Carlo Garside, Jack Veale and Callum Hall. Tiverton welcomed back Asa Hall and had Aiden Horne and Fletcher Poole up top, with a strong looking bench which included; Toby Stephens, Dean Moxey and Karim Coulibaly.

Hall's men imposed a high tempo on the game and immediately pushed our very much in-form local rival's back. This Easter Monday fixture saw the Yellows’ full of positive intentions and Parkway struggled to contain Tiverton's press.

Making early inroads into away territory and utilising the movement and pace of Fletcher Poole and Aiden Horne, there was a good flow to Tivvy's play. The team, looking assured and confident in possession, soon broke our visitor's defensive line. 

Argyle loanee Poole got in behind, after an excellent ball through, showing his marker a clean pair of heels. Although the situation was read by veteran goalkeeper Luke McCormick who of course is no stranger to Home Park himself. He closed down the angle and made himself big, to block away the young forward’s effort.

Resuming on the front foot the Yellows' were really forcing the issue. Fluent in possession and swarming over the visitors’, Tiverton continued to stretch their opponents and with nine minutes played they were rewarded. 

An incisive move with Tivvy sweeping forward and exchanging passes turned Parkway round. The cutback from the by-line was begging to be hit and up stepped Hall to duly oblige in providing a sumptuous, emphatic finish that the move deserved, firing into the top corner.

The Ninth minute opener provoked an inevitable reaction from the away side and ended a period of dominance. They had started to find their way back into the game and it was much more even, when it opened up for the South Devon side and in a coming together between Ross and a Parkway forward, a penalty was awarded.

Former Yellow Carlo Garside was the appointed taker and he made no mistake in finding the corner and levelling things up, with 17 minutes played.

Poole, always a willing runner, was found again as he raced onto another measured ball over the top. McCormick once again came to his side's rescue. Parkway were struggling to deal with the lively forward's movement, but his well-struck shot was denied by the quick reflexes and parry of the away side's keeper in the 20th minute.

Our visitors, with the experienced Ryan Brett and the Garside brothers(Rio and Carlo) more prominent, broke with purpose around Five minutes later. A slick piece of football left Callum Hall one-on-one with Ross, who was able to thwart the ex Tivvy man.

Reece Thompson in his eagerness to steer in the rebound was late on Matt Wood as he attempted to clear away and was cautioned by the Referee.

The Yellows’ though reassumed control and around the half-hour mark Fletcher Poole with some neat hold up play, slotted the ball back to Billington who in turn fed the onrushing Horne. His cross in was met by a Tiverton head, but McCormick claimed, to ease the danger.

Taylor Scarff who was being given a testing time by Poole then just managed to hold him up as he again threatened, latching onto an astute pass from the influential Billington in the 35th minute.

Then from a Tivvy free kick after Horne who was making a real nuisance of himself was fouled, Koerner’s delivery into the box was inviting. Wood headed back across to Billington who couldn't quite keep his header on target. A last ditch clearance from Down also eased relentless pressure from the Yellows’.

With half time approaching Sam Lord made a good breaking run from midfield and was played in by Horne, but he was ushered away by a recovering defender. However, in the additional minute added on, Tiverton regained their lead. 

Poole, always a moving target, appeared down Parkway's left channel and a good lifted pass saw him quickly retrieve and progress to the by-line, ahead of his marker. He pulled the ball back and there on the edge of the box was Billington who supplied a ruthless assured side- footed finish. Using the pace of the ball to slot home.

There was only time for our visitors to kick off and a thoroughly enjoyable first half if you're a Tivvy fan came to an end. The half was as good as anything they had produced at home all season and it was as dangerous as we have looked as an attacking force.

Parkway had been second best in the opening 45 minutes, but they started strongly after the interval. Asa Hall's men had to hold firm, as they forced a corner and were having the Lion's share of possession.

With almost a quarter of an hour gone of the concluding half, Asa Hall's thumping tackle won possession for the home side, releasing Poole who took the ball past his man and continued down the flank. His testing ball into the area was hurriedly cleared out for a corner.

Miscommunication though from Ross and Billington moments later, presented the visitors with a chance to go ahead. However, a bit of a miskick/ airshot, spared blushes and the Yellows’ had the ball back.

In the 63rd minute they attacked again and seemed to be finding their passes a little too easy without pressure on the ball. When the ball came to unmarked captain Rio Garside in the box, he acrobatically volleyed home.

In response to going a goal behind Two substitutions were made by Steve Orchard and David Steele. Karim Coulibaly replaced Horne who had given another energetic display and played very well alongside our Starman on the day Fletcher Poole.

The second change saw Toby Stephen’s return from a brief spell out with injury and come on for Hall. Parkway were having the better of it, as in the warm conditions the tempo dropped. After withstanding some pressure though, Stephen's with impressive footwork, beat a few players and was a whisker away from playing Coulibaly in.

It was Tiverton who had a good spell for the next few minutes, as Coulibaly seemed to be fouled out wide by Down, but the Referee thought otherwise and gave a free kick against Coulibaly. Then Poole once again was played in over the top, but he couldn't keep his shot down.

Although it was some questionable defending that resulted in what turned out to be the game's winning goal. A mix up led to Ross being out of position and Thompson had the easy task of putting the ball into an empty net and accepted in the 79th minute.

Poole fashioned a chance for himself a few minutes later with a neat shift of feet, but his powerful shot was marginally too high. There was also strong contact on him which unsteadied him and would have definitely resulted in a penalty if he had not got his shot off, as quickly as he did.

Lord who had looked accomplished and had been creative throughout, departed and Collins was introduced.

The Yellows’ pressed for an equaliser and a good spot from Wilkins whose pass released Wellington, nearly gave us one last opportunity to take away a share of the spoils. A Parkway player recovered round though and it wasn't to be.

We were excellent in the first half today and worthy of holding a bigger advantage at the break, but the more experienced Parkway despite not being convincing were the slightly better side in the second half and found a way to win.

Lot's to be positive about though in this display and we were a lot more convincing going forward today. On Saturday Asa Hall's men are back in action, when they travel to mid-table Bracknell.

Tiverton: Ross(gk), Wilkins, Wood(c), Koerner, Lord(80), Hall(68), Kennell, Billington, Wellington, Poole, Horne(66)

Subs: Coulibaly(66), Stephens(68), Collins(80), Moxey, Kelly.