FA CUP TTFC 2-1 ITFC

Match Report

Saturday August 22nd

FA Cup Preliminary Round

At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

 

Tiverton Town 2

Wood 62, Howe 90

Ivybridge Town 1

Lane 16

Darren Holmes (Words)

Viv Curtis (Pictures)

There was late drama at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium! 

With Tiverton’s opening tie in this season’s Emirates FA Cup against a plucky Ivybridge, seemingly heading for a replay, a conclusive 90th minute Owen Howe strike fired the Yellows’ through to the next round of the competition.

It was an outcome that finally matched the glorious weather, but it wasn’t an afternoon, without nerve-jangling moments along the way. Tiverton welcomed back Matt Wood to a line up that saw three changes from the Westbury loss. Ryan Keates and Caleb Pryce-Hall starting and Louis Slough, Asa Hall and Finn Roberts making way.

Player- manager Hall opted for a watching brief, alongside first team coach David Steele, with assistant Steve Orchard currently serving a suspension, in the stand. The Ivies’ arrived in mid Devon, having achieved two cup victories in successive weekends and the Western League side have been in good form domestically.

The two teams looked to get the measure of each other as the action began and it was the Yellows’ who fashioned the first chance. Although their early sighter, went over the stand and out into the open road. 

Captain Ed Palmer assumed free-kick duties in the 5th minute, after a Tivvy player was chopped down. Though from not quite 25 yards out, his looping effort, although considerably more accurate than the shot minutes earlier, was comfortable for keeper Kane Gregory.

Moment’s later, sharp reflexes were required by Louis Smith to deny the Ivies’, with Chris Harvey waiting to pounce from close in. However, in the seventh minute Jacob Wellington wriggled in the visitor’s box and was clearly tripped. 

The penalty award saw Owen Howe step up to take, but he was unable to put his spot kick away and Gregory dived to his left and saved. With pressure on the ball, J. Wellington’s rebound was forced wide. Then in the 10th minute a delicately lifted pass into the area from Keates just eluded Howe and Pryce-Hall.

Our opponents though were having promising moments of their own and Asa Hall’s men were not looking altogether secure when Ivybridge crossed the halfway line. With the visitors on the frontfoot and following a neatly constructed move, the ball fell to Jake Lane in the box, who powered home.

The Yellows’ response was immediate. Pryce-Hall played Howe through, but he was denied by a smothering save from the impressive Gregory. Although in general there was a lack of conviction to Tivvy’s play, despite them having greater possession and around the 20 minute mark, a fully extended Smith superbly thwarted striker Josh Johnson’s effort from inside the area.

Then Pryce- Hall dribbled his way into the box from a short corner routine, but his ball across went agonisingly a little too in front of the onrushing J.Wellington and was gathered by the Ivies’ keeper.

Despite having the better of things though and the odd speculative attempt to draw level, it wasn’t a vintage display from Tivvy in the first half and when the side’s returned to the dressing rooms it was the home-side who very much required a reset.

A change was made at the break, as Ed Palmer didn’t return for the second half and was replaced by fellow centre back Louie Slough. Matt Wood took the captain’s armband and moved across into Palmer’s right centre back position.

Tiverton started the second half with the bit between their teeth. An initial effort, deflected its way out to the incoming Corey Koerner and although his shot was dealt with by Gregory, it signalled the Yellows’ intent. Pryce-Hall then bent a cross into the danger area and Wellington was unable to generate enough power on his header, as Asa Hall’s men upped the pressure and the tempo of their work.

A second substitution saw Finn Roberts replace Jack Kennell with an hour played. In the 62nd minute, an ascendant Tivvy were awarded a corner. Robert’s pinpoint delivery was met by a thumping Matt Wood header that flew past the keeper and parity was restored.

Plenty of nearly moments followed the equaliser, with Owen Howe on two or three occasions not quite able to steer home crosses and balls into the area. Backs to the wall defending from a dogged and determined Ivybridge rearguard, also stemming the tide of intense play from Tiverton.

Aiden Horne entered proceedings with Twenty minutes remaining, replacing the promising Pryce-Hall and his lively running of the channels gave the visitors a different proposition to contend with.

In the 77th minute following a corner, a spot of pinball ensued, as Tivvy tried to force the ball over the line. Horne came the closest, as his shot was frantically blocked and cleared. They continued to press and probe, but it looked like a resolute Ivie’s were going to withstand the onslaught.

The away side’s best attacking outlet appeared to be substitute, wideman Kaycee Ogwu who broke a few times to good effect, with driving runs, but it was the Yellows’ who were largely dominant. We reached added time though with the likelihood of a midweek replay.

When one of a number of inviting balls from the flank came into the area, this time Owen Howe’s composed, emphatic finish on the half turn, found the bottom corner, much to the unbridled joy of the Tiverton fans. 

With five minutes of added time still to complete, the Ivies’ threw caution to the wind and went long and direct. However, although there were a few nerve-racking moments with Tivvy carelessly conceding a corner which brought another one, The team held firm and Howe’s goal saw us into the next round. 

The sheer effort of Ivybridge was definitely deserving of a replay and it shouldn’t be forgotten how much they contributed to this cup tie. They played some good football, especially in the opening period.

A mixture of relief and joy met the final whistle and the Yellows' will be hoping to continue in a similar vein, but improve performance wise, when they’re back in cup action on Saturday, for another Devon Derby. An FA Trophy visit to Bideford is next on the agenda.

Tiverton: Smith(GK), Winter, Palmer(C)(45), Wood, Koerner, A. Wellington, Kennell(60), Keates, J. Wellington, Pryce-Hall(71), Howe

Subs: Slough(45), Horne(71), Roberts(60), Hodge, Flowers