Charlie Wright Double Not Enough to See Yellows Over the Line.

Match Report

Tuesday April 21st

At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

Tiverton Town 2

Wright 38,47

Gosport Borough 3

Og 53, Oastler 72, Wooden 81

Att:112

There were times during this evening when the yellows’ looked on course for victory. Ultimately though it wasn't to be, as a valiant effort from Asa Hall's men wasn't quite enough to take something away from this game.

Hall himself returned to the Yellows’ starting line up, as did Karim Coulibaly. Aiden Horne was unavailable, so was goalscorer on Saturday George Collins and Brooklyn Wilkins was only fit enough to take a place on the bench. Douglas Camillo joined him there.

It was a lively opening from Tiverton who were full of enterprise in their play early on. The Gosport keeper Henry Blackledge was twice called into action just before the Ten minute mark. He impressively thwarted Charlie Wright twice in what were gilt-edged chances, as Tivvy were incisive in their approach play.

Charlie Wright away to Basingstoke Town (Viv Curtis)

Despite us being the better side when the game was in its infancy, Gosport created a few good opportunities to go in front with 15 minutes gone. Despite Cartwright's initial attempts to dispossess his man, Boro retained possession and it required a forceful ball winning challenge from Matt Wood to wrestle the ball back.

Then in the next phase of Gosport's attack, a double block from Koerner and some vital headers away from danger by Hall kept things on an even keel. However it was Tiverton who were industrious and were playing at a higher tempo.

A neat technical turn from Cartwright on 23 minutes, saw him get ahead of a Gosport player and then slide a nicely weighted pass through to Jacob Wellington. Wellington couldn't quite connect with a shot, but his pressing resulted in his marker hurriedly putting the ball out.

Toby Stephens then opened up the visitors once again with an excellent piece of vision, playing in Wellington for a second time. Although, as he took it into his stride, he looked up to see the Referee's Assistant waving an offside flag, on Thirty minutes.

Five minutes later the Yellows’ were rewarded for their bright play. From Boro's concession of a throw deep into their territory, Tiverton were quick to take the throw and as the ball was steered into Wright's path, this time he wasn't to be denied and he fired emphatically home to burst the net and give us the advantage.

A strong challenge on Corey Koerner resulted in a Yellow card, but David Steele felt a stronger punishment should have been administered and his protests saw his name being taken, with half time approaching. When the half ended Tivvy fans dared to dream about a possible win and few could argue about us being in the ascendancy.

Drew Sloan replaced Koerner going into the second half. Tiverton continued playing confidently from the restart. Stephens's threatening ball into the box evaded the onrushing Yellows, in a cluttered area.

Then Wright was sent through and found the target for the second time in the evening. Convincingly tucking his shot away into the opposite corner, beyond Blackledge to extend Tivvy's lead, a few minutes into the concluding half. In that moment, a win was etched on both fan's and players' minds.

Gosport who had lacked cohesion through most of the evening then started to apply pressure on Asa Hall's men's goal. Upping their intensity and finding their passes and after a sustained period in Tiverton's territory, a speculative effort from around the penalty spot reared up. 

This saw a back-peddling Marko Radovanovic palm away from under his crossbar. It was adjudged to have gone over the line, by the Linesman, but this appeared to be inconclusive and significantly we were now holding onto a slender 2-1 advantage, with 53 minutes complete.

The visitors’ were definitely galvanised by their goal, after an unconvincing display up until that point. They played with a lot more purpose and a rearguard was needed by Tivvy, as on several occasions they managed to get round the back of our defensive unit and cross dangerously from the by-line.  

Desperate blocks and backs-to-wall defending coming to Tiverton's rescue as attempts from point blank range were commonplace. The Yellows’ though were still dangerous on the break and the introduction of Camillo provided us with another threat going forward, as Coulibaly made way.

Often used as an impact sub for Willand, he firstly held the ball up with a good first touch and then allowed Wellington to take over. Progressing high up the pitch, Wellington pulled back to Toby Stephens whose powerful shot whistled narrowly wide.

Though moments later ex EFL player Joe Oastler drew Boro level. The former Torquay and QPR man who was an influential part of last season's promoted Totton side, showed notable composure in decisively powering home from inside Tivvy's box, on 72 minutes.

Wright, whose movement was causing problems for Gosport's backline received a probing pass from Cartwright, but was then caught just outside the box. However, the resulting free kick was overhit and the away side restarted play with a goal-kick.

Although, with less than Ten minutes of normal time remaining, another seasoned player stepped up to complete the comeback. Dan Wooden 35, who has spent the majority of his senior career at Privett Park, supplying a conclusive finish after concerted pressure from our visitors.

The Yellows’ tried in vain to set up a grandstand finish, by pursuing an equaliser. In added time, following some dazzling footwork from Camillo, Stephens picked out substitute Jacob Fever with a hanging ball in, that he was able to get his head on, but unable to direct either side of Blackledge who calmly claimed.

The final whistle sounded a few minutes later and it was Gosport who went back to Hampshire with all three points. We played with a lot of heart and provided some quality moments on the evening, but a game of two halves ultimately drew to a close, with a loss in the campaign's penultimate game.

Second placed Farnham visit the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium on Saturday, for our final fixture. Anything less than a win will see them get a lesser draw in the play-off semi finals, with Tiverton looking to end their season on a positive note.

Tiverton: Radovanovic(gk), Koerner(45), Kennell, Wood(c), Cartwright, Hall, Stephens, Billington(85), Wellington, Coulibaly(60), Wright(88)

Subs: Sloan(45), Camillo(60), Fever(88), Wilkins, Padmore(85)