Matt Wood Captains Yellows to First Clean Sheet Since September.

Match Report

Saturday March 14^th

At The Wyatt Homes Stadium

Wimborne Town 0

Tiverton Town 0

Att: 514

Matt Wood leading his side out v Wimborne (Viv Curtis)

There have been times during the past few months when many would have wondered if the Yellows’ were going to turn on the point's tap again. On Saturday the drought ended at a Wimborne side who before the start of play were probably about Two win's away from securing their status in this division for next season.

The likelihood of Tiverton doing the same is a remote possibility. However the mentality in the dressing room should be all about pride in performance and that it,“ain’t over till it’s over”. This was very evident in Dorset on Saturday, as they returned from Wimborne’s Wyatt Homes Stadium with a well earned share of the spoil’s.

Matt Wood took over the captaincy, with Toby Down departing earlier in the week and Two loan signings from Plymouth; Midfielder Sam Lord and wide player Fletcher Poole joining up with their new team mates, on the journey to Dorset. Lord going straight into the Eleven and Poole was amongst the substitutes. Gabe Billington returned to Tiverton’s midfield and Seventeen year old Karim Coulibaly retained his place in the side.

From the off both side’s moved the ball around positively in possession. There was an eagerness in midfield to gain the upperhand, with Stephen’s, Billington and Kennell working hard to achieve that. There was little to choose between the Two team’s with the game in its infancy, but it was Coulibaly with Seven minutes gone, whose curling effort brought a fine save from Oscar Abbotson. The Southampton loanee springing across his goal.

The Yellows’ high press with Coulibaly and Horne rushing the Wimborne backline, had an intensity which was starting to pay dividends. Just over Fifteen minutes had been played, when following some bright football from Wilkins and Kennell down the Magpies left, Wellington’s snap shot and rebounded effort forced a very good double save from the busy Abbotson.

Tiverton had done a lot in those opening exchanges to silence the home support, however there was a near miss in the 18^th minute when captain Sam Jackson angled his half- volley wide of Ross’s goal. Good handling from the Tivvy keeper when the Magpies got in behind through centre forward Will Fletcher, saw Ross catch his shot on the turn. However, focused and dogged defending from the Yellows’ was epitomised by Wood who decisively produced a clearing tackle with Wimborne attacker’s waiting to pounce.

Fluent passing moves saw Asa Hall’s men, probing for an opener and our host’s defence was almost unlocked when some excellent movement from Coulibaly broke their backline. Fine margins as he was ruled offside, but bright play from him, with nearly half an hour completed.

Former Poole and Dorchester player Fletcher was then superbly marshalled as he was momentarily through. The close attention’s of the defenders forcing him to check back and eventually shoot without any real power and Ross made a routine gather.

The better chances in the second part of the half came from the Magpies’, but Tiverton continued to force the Dorset side back with neat Interplay and dangerous movement, that stretched our opponent’s when we were in possession, in an entertaining and attractive match.The intensity of Horne and Coulibaly’s press, meaningthat Wimborne’s defensive unit were not given amoment’s rest.

However, not far into the second period John Ross had to be alert as he reacted smartly to deny Billy Walker’s diving header and then he dived up to the corner of his goal to stop substitute Bournemouth loanee Ethan Sill’spile-driver from distance, in the next phase of the action. Sill’s who is the manager Tim Sill’s son, then weaved in and out of Yellows’ players, before unleashing another powerful shot that this time rattled the post, with 55 minutes on the clock.

Sensing the deadlock being broken, Tiverton had to withstand a big onslaught from the Magpies. Another replacement Lewis Williams(not our talented former keeper), a flying winger was the next to be thwarted byan inspired Ross from close quarters. Jackson also headed over and then Fletcher fired against the outside of the upright, in a testing prolonged spell of pressure from our host’s.

Remaining resolute though, the Yellows’ were always’ a handful when they broke during this game and the lively Wellington was stopped when cutting into a dangerous area with a shift of feet, by a desperate lunge that resulted in the award of a free kick in the 72^ndminute and then the elusive Coulibaly was more cynically brought down on halfway and although a Yellow was the punishment, there was some debate as to whether the offender was the last man and obviously if he was, then he got away with one.

Sustained pressure from Tiverton at this point was nullified by some strong defensive work from the Magpie’s. Although a quick surge up field by Wimborne demanded us to be switched on and a tremendous vital tackle from Koerner prevented a One-on-One situation from happening.

In the 83^rd minute the relentless Horne wriggled his way into the box and it appeared that he had hit the deck after being bundled over. In spite of vociferous claims for a penalty from our bench, the Referee decided to the contrary and play continued much to the anger of our management team and the players.

The defence held firm and the team continued to probe for a winner in the remainder of the game, but nevertheless a draw was the outcome and the togetherness and attitude of the players was admirable.

The side’s first point since our home win versus Taunton on January 3^rd was well worth waiting for. The Yellows’ will be determined to build on this, when they face Basingstoke at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium, under the light’s on Tuesday evening. 

Tiverton: Ross(gk) Wilkins, Wood(c), Koerner, Lord, Billington, Stephens, Kennell, Wellington, Coulibaly, Horne(90+)

Subs: Padmore, Jordan, Poole(90+), Hall