Josh does the Biss-ness
Saturday October 24th
At The Camella Stadium
Plain Ham
Larkhall Athletic 1
Beckinsale 66
Tiverton 3
Bissett 2, 28, 64 pen
The pressure was definitely on the Yellows’ to produce a result at Larkhall and they responded at a stormy Camella Stadium with a 3-1 victory. In adversity after recent disappointing displays and with skipper Ed Palmer’s departure to Plymouth Parkway, a Josh Bissett hat-trick and an abundance of other good performances through the team, got us back to winning ways.
Palmer had been an important and influential player for Tiverton. This prompted Asa Hall and the coaching team to fill that role, by Hall himself dropping back into the backline. A position he had played to good effect for Tivvy in the past, when central defenders were either injured or suspended
He joined a defensive formation of Winter, Wood and Slough. Ahead of them were a midfield of Kennell, and the Wellington brothers, with Bissett and Roberts in advanced wide roles, supporting Owen Howe up front, as the Yellows’ looked to stop the rot.
The travelling support didn’t have to wait too long for a Tiverton opener. In driving rain and heavy swirling wind, both sides played with intent from the kick off and after a couple of attacks apiece, Bissett found Jacob Wellington, as he came in off the line. The ball was reversed to him by Wellington into the Larkhall area and from around 12 yards out, Bissett slotted clinically into the bottom corner.
An early lead for the team that came in only the second minute of the match. However, the Yellows' didn’t have it all their way in the game’s infancy and had to dig in. Louis Smith was twice called into action.
The hosts broke into the box following a well constructed counter attack and Tiverton’s number one, had to palm away. Forward Seb Scott was heavily involved and he then fed another Larks’ attacking player who lashed a shot low and hard to the corner of Smith’s goal, which he agilely kept out.
The game was fairly open and a stinging speculative long range Hall effort whistled wide down the other end and Howe and Bissett had half chances to extend our lead. Howe couldn’t quite get enough purchase on a header, that was in turn headed away to safety and the dangerous Bissett had a snap-shot blocked.
Winter’s arrowed balls into the Bath side's area were a good source of creativity for Asa Hall’s men, especially when the wind got up and just eluded the arriving Howe, Bissett and Wellington. However, in the 22nd minute with players committed forward, Slough just about managed to put enough pressure on the ball, so that Scott could only direct his shot over the bar.
Just over five minutes later though, Tivvy added to their advantage. They pressed forward deep into Larkhall territory and after a couple of attempts from the home side to clear, Winter found Bissett inside the box and from close range the winger once again showed composure in sliding the ball past ex yellow Liam Armstrong.
The difficult conditions were having an influence on proceedings, but the end product for once from the team and in particular Bissett had made the difference to this point. There was also a steely determination from the outset throughout the team to turn the tide.
Thirty-eight minutes had gone, when a slick passing move ended with Bissett's lay off to Roberts. His instinctive powerful shot produced a decent parried stop from Armstrong, as Tiverton looked to take the game away from Larkhall.
With the break only a few minutes away, Bissett was played in. He rounded Armstrong and slotted in, for what momentarily looked like his hat-trick, but a Linesman’s flag for offside put that achievement on temporary hold.
When the players did return to the dressing rooms, a very businesslike Yellows’ left the field. What separated the sides was the ruthlessness of the visitor's display, because possession was pretty much even. The importance of the next goal will have been widely circulated by the coaching teams of both sides, at the break.
A war of attrition ensued after the resumption of play and it was a lot more of a tight affair until we reached the hour mark. An advanced Winter made a tackle high up the field, to win possession for himself and drove to the byline. He spotted an unmarked Howe, who from around the penalty shot, fired over.
A penalty shout on J. Wellington was then ignored, as he tricked his way across the by-line and entered the box. However, a couple of minutes later a clear trip on him in a more central position, inside the area when bursting through, left the Referee with an easy decision to make.
Bissett stepped up and provided a third conclusive finish of the match, sending Armstrong the wrong way and rightfully after completing his hat-trick, leading the celebrations. Bissett’s hunger to make things happen since joining the Yellows’, getting him fully rewarded for his efforts.
Although those celebrations were quickly muted by substitute Ryan Beckinsale. The midfielder who was a teenager when he briefly played for Tiverton at the end of the previous decade, supplied an equally clinical finish, as Larkhall poured forward two minutes after the penalty and he gave his side renewed hope.
At that stage there was still, with time to be added on, a little under 30 minutes remaining. The Yellows’ had to withstand a bit of a predicted onslaught from the Larks, but still maintained a threat on the break.
Smith’s handling though was exceptional all afternoon and as the home-side tested us and drove in some inviting crosses and sent in some corners, the keeper and the whole defensive unit stood firm. Our midfield too were very attentive.
The very welcome sight of long-term absentee frontman Louis Jagger Cane back in action, was a big plus amongst three substitutions made. There was also a debut for defender Toby Alsop, a new loan signing from Exeter City and the introduction of Toby Stephens. All of those that had exited had made meaningful contributions.
J.Wellington and Roberts made way, but the highest accolades have to be reserved for the outstanding Josh Bissett. His hat-trick was the first one to be completed in the Southern League by a Tiverton player, since Alex Fletcher’s one against Wimborne in September 2020.
The players greeted the final whistle with a mixture and celebration and a sense of relief. It was a deserving victory that at times required real battling qualities and was a test of character. Hall slotted in nicely at the back and Wood regained the captain’s armband and led by example, but this was very much a team effort.
High flying Dorchester visit the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium on Tuesday and I’m certain the players will want to give their fans who have been without many home successes to celebrate in recent seasons, a performance they can be proud of.
The Dorset side were beaten at home by Slimbridge on Saturday and will be very much intent on bouncing back, the Yellows’ will be looking to climb the table and consolidate.
Tiverton: Smith(GK), Winter, Hall, Wood(C), Slough, Kennell, A.Wellington, Roberts(90), J.Wellington(78), Bissett(80), Howe
Subs: Stephens(78), Jagger Cane(80), Keates, Alsop(90), Koita
