SLOUGH'S EARLY NOD DOES THE JOB

Match Report

Tuesday August 11th

At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

 

Tiverton Town 1

Slough 3

Barnstaple Town 0

Att: 417

Darren Holmes (Words)

Viv Curtis (Pictures)

There was a healthy contingent of both sets of supporters in attendance for this first Devon derby of the season. A closely fought affair was anticipated and that is how it played out, with the Yellows’ just edging out their North Devon rivals and extending their good early start to the season.

Owen Howe replaced Aiden Horne who is carrying a knock, but was amongst the replacements in an otherwise unchanged line up, from the one that drew with Hungerford at the weekend. 

Barnstaple included former Tivvy favourite River Allen, ex yellow Tyler Elliot, Gabby Rogers, former keeper Olly Saunders and Joe Hatch recently released from Plymouth in their starting eleven

There was a half chance for Barnstaple shortly after the kick off, which forced Louis Smith into a comfortable save, but in the third minute Tiverton won a free kick out wide, deep into Barum territory. From the delivery in Ed Palmer flicked onto fellow centre back Louie Slough who headed powerfully past former Tivvy keeper Olly Saunders.

Louie Slough touching down after his jumping fist bump followng our early winner!

An early lead for Asa Hall's men, but then Barnstaple were determined to cancel out our advantage immediately. For the next few minutes they laid siege to our goal, but an excellent rearguard held firm and the Yellows' emerged unscathed.

In the 9th minute, Louis Jagger Cane’s progress was halted by Brodie Montague and his deliberate breaking up of play through illegal means, resulted in a significant first yellow card being issued to the Barum centre back.

Playing on the shoulder and bursting into the visitors’ final third with regularity, Jagger Cane was proving a real menace to the North Devon side’s backline. Another Barnstaple player then received a yellow, less than five minutes further on, with Jacob Wellington this time being the fouled player.

Barum were a constant threat, although the Tiverton back four, once again with Ed Palmer at the forefront of their containment, often restricted their visitors to efforts from distance and when they did have sight of an opening, the Yellows' frequently closed the door.

Just prior to the 20 minute mark an expertly timed tackle in the Tiverton box from Mason Winter, kept the hosts in front. There was a bit of show-boating from Corey Koerner who was having one of his best games in a yellow shirt, in defensively keeping the supremely talented Gabby Rogers in check.

Mason Winter establishing himself as a crucial part of the Yellows defence

Asa Hall’s team’s ploy of playing over the top and threading passes though to Jagger Cane often hurried the visitors into last-ditch tackles and desperate measures were deployed in nullifying his obvious threat.

Midway through the first period, Tivvy were enjoying good possession, with the combative Aaron Wellington heavily involved in pushing his side forward. The irrepressible Palmer and dominant Slough are looking better with each game and are being hugely supported by full backs Winter and Koerner.

The booking’s count was growing for Ben Potter’s team as their frustrations were boiling over. This time after they had been in the ascendancy for a few minutes, when Tiverton countered there was an air of cynicism to the challenge that earned a third booking.

Asa Hall kept the Referee busy, after remonstrating with him when Owen Howe was adjudged to have committed a foul and went into the book for dissent in the 41st minute. Barnstaple continued to press, but Howe also had a shot blocked from inside the box, before the half ended.

The Yellows’ held a slender 1-0 lead at the interval, but it was Barum who were quickly into their stride when the match got back underway. A testing first Ten minutes of the second period from the visitors, saw Tiverton pushed back into their own half, but they remained resolute and defensively tight.

During that time though, Tivvy did muster a half chance and Finn Roberts following a fast break was handed a sight of goal after good link up play with the overlapping Koerner. His quick feet had seen him advance down the away side’s right.

Robert’s took the ball down neatly with his chest and his attempt was struck cleanly, but it rose above the bar. However, it was the visitors who were asking most of the questions at that stage.

Howe, who won his fair share of headers on the evening, then knocked on to Jagger Cane, 55 minutes into the game. His strike partner had been an elusive runner for much of the evening and he drove a ball across the face of goal, which was just in front of onrushing Yellows’.

Barnstaple then opened up Tiverton’s backline, but Smith produced a vital reaction save low down, to preserve Asa Hall’s men’s advantage.

Then with an hour played and with Ben Potter’s side having a lot of possession in the Yellows’ half, Tivvy conjured up an excellent flowing piece of football through the third’s, with intricate movement making holes in Barnstaple’s rearguard. 

The move ended with Jacob Wellington getting on the end of a good ball in and he marginally missing the target with a header. However, the visitors were quickly back on the front foot.

In the 64th minute Jagger Cane worryingly stayed down after a coming-together and a stretcher was required. He was applauded off the field and we will find out the nature of his injury in due course. We wish him well in his recovery.

Jack Kennell was his replacement, as Steve Orchard and David Steele from the sidelines, opted at that stage for an extra man in midfield. This freed up Jacob Wellington in an attacking sense, who started to make headway over on the North Devon side’s left.

In the 73rd minute Barnstaple were reduced to Ten men, when the aforementioned Wellington exchanged passes with Winter and Hall, before he was just about to break Barum’s high line and was deliberately held back by Montague, whose earlier yellow meant he was sent off.

Owen Howe feeling Barum's physicallituy throughout the fixture.

In the 80th minute Howe and Hall made way for Horne and Keates and without going totally for the jugular, a refreshed Yellows’ started to manage the game efficiently. 

J. Wellington was once again stopped in his tracks, this time legitimately, when a teasing ball in from Roberts was neatly controlled by him, before a solid defensive tackle stopped the trigger being pulled.

The busy Horne and Keates were having an impact, as we increased the tempo of our play. Aaron Wellington had been tireless with and without the ball throughout. 

Although a lot of the accolades should be given to the defence and a magnificently executed challenge from Slough, with a forward bearing down on goal, was in keeping with a fine display from the back four led by the excellent Palmer. The ever alert Louis Smith behind them, distributed well throughout the evening.

In the 85th minute Billy Tucker joined proceedings, replacing Roberts. It was a short cameo from the attacking midfielder, but using all of his experience and guile, he forced a corner and a number of throw-ins , over by the corner flag, out on Barum’s right. In this period, Saunders had a couple of shots to save, but both lacked power and were routinely held.

Seeing the game out, was definitely an Achilles heel last season, but they did this without any major scares and an additional Five minutes at the end of normal time was handled convincingly. 

It’s been an encouraging and reassuring beginning to the season for the Yellows’ and they will be hoping to use this as a springboard on Saturday, when they travel to Wiltshire where their opponents will be Westbury United.

Tiverton: Smith(GK),Winter, Palmer(C),Slough,Koerner,J. Wellington,Hall(80),A.Wellington, Roberts(85),Howe(80),Jagger Cane(67)

Subs: Keates(80),Tucker(85), Horne(80) Kennell(67),Pryce-Hall