Match Report | Newton Abbot Spurs

Tuesday 1st July 2025 7.30pm 

Devon FA Headquarters, Newton Abbot 

NEWTON ABBOT SPURS  1 TIVERTON  TOWN  5 

With players at different stages of fitness, new understandings being built on the pitch, trialists showing what they can do and a hot sweaty evening in Newton Abbot, the Yellows began their pre-season. 

Their opponents were Southwest Peninsula Premier East side Newton Abbot Spurs, and it was our hosts that drew first blood. A bit of hesitation in the Yellows defence was exploited after just two minutes and a Spurs player stroked home. 

Tiverton grew into the game and with eleven minutes on the clock Louis Jagger-Cane’s stinging low drive was diverted onto the crossbar, by one of the hosts defenders. In the sweltering conditions, a drinks break was taken around the 20-minute mark. A very new look and unfamiliar Yellows were getting to know each other and were beginning to enjoy good spells of possession and territorial advantage. 

Pacy and energetic in this early pre-season offering, strikers Aiden Horne and Jagger Cane provided the hosts with several alarming moments, before Horne levelled after a few sighters. He headed home a well delivered floated corner into the box. The signing from Cullompton was often the first to react in and around Spurs area. 

Newton Abbot contributed well to an entertaining first half and are a side with good ability on the ball. However, the Yellows were dominant before the break and efforts from Jagger-Cane and Horne were not far away from giving us an advantage going into it. It was all square though at the midway point. 

Changes were made at half time. George Burton whose handling was assured when called upon, made way for Ross. Jacob Wellington and Cunningham who both had decent workouts were replaced by Coles and Williams respectively. 

When the game restarted the Yellows continued to be in the ascendancy and Horne with predatory instincts guided a shot that was going wide into the back of the net and with a brace on an impressive non-competitive debut, he was replaced by the returning Tor Swann who quickly went about tormenting our opponents with his repertoire of skills, lighting up the match and four minutes into a dazzling cameo, he stroked home following a defensive mishap from the home side. 

Jagger-Cane who had been unfortunate not to get on the score sheet, but with vital minutes in the tank, he was withdrawn for Aworinde. Matt Wood had had a commanding game at the back but remained in the Spurs box as the ball was recycled from a set-piece and an audacious back-heeled flick from the powerful former Frome centre back found the bottom corner in the 63^rd minute as he showed his threat in his opponents' area. 

The floodgates never quite opened and Newton Abbot Spurs served up some neat approach play at times, although the Yellows were always in control in the second period and there were quite a few opportunities for Asa Hall’s men to go further ahead as a fine save, a series of determined blocks, last ditch tackles and shots that went narrowly wide of the target followed.

Then in the 82^nd minute Swann wrapped up the scoring after appearing to have fouled his marker, the visitors broke and the cultured attacking player emphatically slotted home. A valuable workout for Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s team, missing Down, Hall, Koita and Moxey in a playing capacity. Virtually all the players that have been announced were present at this game. We look forward to them making their bows in next week’s pre-season game at The Slee Blackwell Stadium, when we host Exmouth Town on Saturday 12^th July. 

We wish Newton Abbot Spurs well in their season and thank them for their warm welcome.

Tiverton Town: Burton (Ross 46), Wilkins, Wood, Russell, Gleeson (Conveney 68), Lingu, Stephens, Cunningham (Coles 46), Wellington (Williams 46), Jagger-Cane (Aworinde 62), Horne (Swann 56). 

Goals: Horne 32, 55 Swann 60, 88 Wood 63.