Howe proves Yellows Wey too strong for Terras
Weymouth 1–2 Tiverton Town
Saturday 31 October 2026 | Bob Lucas Stadium
Weymouth: Swann 88'
Tiverton Town: Howe 5', 50'
I've witnessed quite a few Tivvy horror shows in my decade of following the Yellows. Though, to mark Halloween this season, Asa Hall's men produced a display that bucked the trend of many capitulations and near misses. The quality, application and resilience they showed to get a result here against the league leaders at the start of play cannot be underestimated.
Let's not get carried away, because there have already been a few false dawns this season. However, whereas options seemed a little limited earlier in the season, a strong line-up and bench were named here. As a squad, those who took part in this superb victory against a previously unbeaten side all made excellent and important contributions.
In front of Louis Smith was a back three of Matt Wood, Asa Hall and Louie Slough. Full-backs/wing-backs were Mason Winter and Corey Koerner. Jack Kennell was in defensive midfield, with Toby Stephens playing further forward. Jacob Wellington, Josh Bissett, who was back after illness, and centre-forward Owen Howe completed the line-up.
Table-toppers Weymouth included two players who had played for the Yellows last season: winger Tor Swann and defender Harry Hutchinson. Also in the Terras' starting eleven, which hadn't exactly been goal-shy this season, was joint top scorer in the division Toby Holmes, who had reached 10 goals this season along with ex-Yellow Leighton Thomas.
There was a flow to this game from the outset, with the hosts determined to be in the ascendancy, but finding a well-organised Tiverton closing off a lot of the Terras' routes to goal, with strongly executed tackles and headers limiting their progress.
Asa Hall's men had already announced their threat with some slick passing and movement in their own half. They protected possession and Winter sent Bissett, who once again was in tremendous form, away down Weymouth's left. A desperate block tackle, which saw the home side concede a throw-in high up the pitch, was needed to prevent a cross.
In that busy opening, our defensive line was breached in the second minute and Smith got down well to palm away a side-footed effort towards the corner of his goal.
However, five minutes into the game, the Yellows broke at pace and a superb switch of play saw Bissett control the ball out wide, drive at his marker and then cleverly check back to buy himself some room to put over a telling cross. His measured ball in found a briefly unmarked Howe, who took a snapshot from close range that appeared to be cleared off the line by a Terras defender.
In the blink of an eye, Jacob Wellington, following up from point-blank range, had his shot pushed away by keeper Gerard Benfield, who, although positioned slightly behind the goal line, looked to have just about stopped the ball from crossing it.
After consultation with the linesman, the referee controversially awarded a goal, which was credited to Howe, even though the second attempt looked a little closer to being over the line than the first. Questionable decisions have a way of evening themselves out throughout a season, and it's fair to say we've been on the wrong end of a few ourselves.
Weymouth then enjoyed a sustained period of attack, but Tiverton dealt impressively with the home side's attempts to quickly get back on even terms. Koerner appeared to relish his battle with Tor Swann, and this was one of many absorbing individual contests on the day.
Despite crosses still finding their way into and around the Yellows' area, the solidity of our back line was arguably as strong as it's been all season. Very few headers were won by the promotion favourites, as Hall, Wood and Slough dominated aerially. A couple of calm, timely interventions from Hall also kept the Terras at bay.
In the 17th minute, after some neat build-up play from Tivvy, with the classy Stephens knitting play together in the middle third, Winter arrowed a ball into Howe, who got his header away from just inside the box but couldn't quite get enough power on it to trouble Benfield, who caught his attempt.
Then the impressive Wellington glided centrally past a few Terras players and, with the hosts short on numbers and stretched, centre-forward Holmes was booked as he tracked back and upended him. Nothing came from Bissett's free-kick in a good area, but both he and Wellington were causing lots of problems for Jamie Wells' team.
Weymouth continued to see more of the ball, but a defiant and supremely focused Tiverton were working their socks off and were rarely wasteful in possession, with Kennell breaking up play before the hosts had time to threaten and then distributing wisely.
It wasn't until the 39th minute that our hosts got through, though Euan Pollock squandered his chance to draw his side level as he screwed a half-volley wide of the upright.
There were quite a few occasions when efforts were blocked from just outside the away side's area in a dogged display, with one crucial, crunching challenge from Wood preventing Smith from being exposed.
With the interval approaching, conceding would have put a different complexion on the game, but the Yellows managed a tricky period before half-time and headed to the dressing rooms a goal to the good. The game plan was clearly working, and a very professional Tiverton should have been very happy with their first 45 minutes' work.
I can't emphasise enough how good we were in possession as a team, and that continued into the second half. Starting well when the game got back underway, the team had a cushion in the 50th minute. Winter's teasing ball to just outside the D was chested down by Howe. He shifted onto his right foot and, from just inside the Weymouth box, finished sharply and expertly into the opposite corner. 2–0.
His first may have been dubious, but his second was right out of the top drawer. The stunned Terras regrouped and then started to get on the front foot. But every time they appeared to get a sight of goal, or a ball found its way in and around the Yellows' area, Tiverton closed the door with a series of timely interventions, clearing headers and blocks.
That well-marshalled Tivvy defensive unit benefited from the composure and vision of Hall, but it has to be said that across the back line we were hugely impressive. Winter and Koerner were excellent outlets all afternoon as we built through the team.
It's difficult to convey without being at the game just how tireless Bissett had been, both in and out of possession, often hurrying the Weymouth players into giving the ball away. Anyway, he received a well-earned rest in the 67th minute, and what a performance he had given when he made way for Louis Jagger-Cane.
With around 20 minutes remaining, J. Wellington, with a good first touch, took the ball into the area and, just before he could pull the trigger, he was clearly brought down from behind. The referee held a different view, much to the anger of a contingent of Yellows fans who had been in good voice all afternoon, and Tivvy were denied a chance to put the game to bed.
Wellington then burst through again but chose to try to beat the last defender, with Jagger-Cane having taken up a good position to score on his right. The defender stole the ball and Weymouth returned upfield.
The home side were persistent with their pressing and probing, and in the second half we saw more of the undoubted quality that they possess. Smith was getting busier but was very assured in his handling. Vital interventions from a host of Tivvy players meant we were holding firm.
In the 85th minute, Steve Orchard, David Steele and Lee Lashenko, over in the dugout, made a triple change. Dan Koita, Finn Roberts and Aaron Wellington entered for the departing Owen Howe, J. Wellington and Corey Koerner.
Howe had his best game for the club since his return, and his all-round play was impressive. There were so many exceptional performances from the players, including Wellington and Koerner, who are both starting to realise their potential.
Koita immediately made an impact, as the tall, skilful frontman held the ball up, drew a foul and won a throw-in in the opposing half. The Yellows' rearguard was finally broken in the 88th minute by Tor Swann, ensuring a nervy last seven minutes, as it turned out, with added time.
Swann fired the ball home in a congested Tivvy box. He had a decent game but was handled well by Slough and Koerner. Weymouth threw everything at Asa Hall's men, but they couldn't find a leveller, and the outball to Koita kept running down the clock.
This kind of result has been a long time in the making, but the Terras definitely couldn't begrudge the Yellows taking all three points back to Mid Devon. There will be many twists and turns during the season, though knowing we are capable of performing like this is reassuring.
It's tenth-placed Sporting Club Inkberrow next weekend at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium, when the Yellows will be looking to start making home advantage count and to climb the table, having moved up to twelfth position.
Tiverton Town: Smith (GK), Wood (C), Hall, Slough, Winter, Koerner (85), Kennell, Stephens, J. Wellington (85), Bissett (67), Howe (85).
Subs: Jagger-Cane (67), Koita (85), A. Wellington (85), Roberts (85), Alsop (90).
