Tiverton lose close battle in Surrey

Match Report by Darren Holmes

Saturday January 10th

At Alwyns Lane

Chertsey Town 4

McCoy 6 Lee 20 Abisogun 23

Berry 83

Tiverton Town 3

Jagger Cane 1 Koita 18

Swann pen 71

Att: 507

Tiverton Town playing away to Chertsey Town

Following the thrills and spills of Two Derby wins over the Christmas period, Tiverton travelled to Chertsey whose ground is in the shadow of Thorpe Park. The Yellows’ came up short once again in another goal-fest, Rollercoaster of a game, but came agonisingly close to extending their unbeaten run to Three matches.

Taking the positives we are finding the net with encouraging regularity at the moment, although the heavy amount of goal’s conceded still remains worrying and will eventually consign us to the drop.

The Curfews’ are play off hopeful’s and the midweek signing of prolific forward Nathan Minhas from Chesham, will have enhanced their chances of achieving that come the end of the season.

For this encounter Asa Hall and his coaching staff named an unchanged line up. Hall once again taking up a deep lying midfield role and Harry Hutchinson partnering captain Toby Down in the heart of the Yellows’ defence.

A dramatic start to the game, meant that with barely a minute played Tiverton took the lead. A searching ball into the box found Louis Jagger Cane aerially and he nodded home.

Chertsey’s response was almost immediate though and the Yellows’ required fast reaction’s and good hand’s from Matt Wonnacott, as he palmed over to foil Olly McCoy. A second save from Tivvys’ number one followed minute’s later, to keep us ahead.

Our host’s then put together a quality move, with plenty of incisive passing and good movement. Levelling thing’s up when Wayne Ridgely found McCoy who finished emphatically, to highlight the Curfews’ play off claim’s.

However Tiverton’s spirit has always been evident in spite of potentially demoralising result's and match position’s. Our lead was restored in the 18th minute, when Toby Down’s accurate, lengthy pass was collected by Dan Koita in the channel. Cutting into the box, he fired across the keeper and into the far corner.

2-1 to the Yellows’ and the build up play from both side’s was impressive and entertaining for a crowd of just over 500, who were there to witness a hugely watchable spectacle. The openness of the game suggesting that there were destined to be further addition’s to the scoreline.

Unfortunately though for Tiverton the next Two goals were both for the home side and the conceding of goals in quick succession issue, once again reared it’s head. Parity was achieved through Conor Lee who scored after sustained possession in our final third.

Then the powerful, fleet footed Gary Abisogun with 23 minutes on the clock stepped into the area from out wide and Chertsey were infront for the first time. His shot flew past Wonnacott and made the Yellows’ task that much harder.

There was an end-to-end feel to the game and there was a rousing reaction from Asa Hall’s men as they went about trying to level. A couple of minutes later Tor Swann who was finding more and more joy down our host’s left, pretended to cross on a few occasions before delivering invitingly into the box, but the ball was headed away from the lingering Koita.

Then it was the Curfews’ turn as the pendulum swung back and forth. Their slick attacking play matching Tivvy’s and requiring some good defensive work to nullify their threat.

The Tiverton bench then protested about an unpunished tackle of questionable legality on Wellington, right in front of them, after 35 minutes had gone. Half time was fast approaching and the Yellows’ determination to not go in behind was apparent.

Corey Koerner’s clearance fell kindly to Jacob Wellington who broke Chertsey’s defensive line initially, before his shot was blocked. The ball rebounded back to Gabe Billington whose driven effort wasn’t far away, but went wide.

Asa Hall then jumped highest in the Curfews’ area in the 43rd minute, but his goalbound header was deflected behind for a corner. The player- manager then sent a scorching attempt from range, on the verge of half time to the corner of Luke Wynne Robert’s goal. The Chertsey Gloveman pulling off an excellent fingertip save to deny him.

Not long after Hall went close the player’s disappeared into the dressing rooms for some refreshments, as the half ended.

A change was made at the interval, tactical or otherwise. Ryan Keates replacing Corey Koerner, as the Yellows’ looked to get back on even terms. Messrs Hall, Steve Orchard and David Steele will I’m sure have given words of wisdom to the away dressing room, before they returned.

The game got back underway with Tivvy on the front foot, although we were indebted to Matt Wonnacott, as he came out on top of a one-on-one duel, shortly after the restart. He was both alert and showed superb reflexes.

Happening Three minutes into the half, this was a vital intervention from the Torquay loanee and avoided what would have looked like a daunting two goal deficit. Without seriously threatening it was the Yellows’ who had the better of a Ten minute spell with little in the way of notable action.

The match sprang back into life after Minhas was sent through, as the Tiverton backline was prized open. The away side had the frontman to be thankful to though as he took a heavy touch and the opportunity passed him by, with an hour played.

A few minutes later Billington cleverly made space for himself to shoot on the edge of the Curfews’ area, however his shot climbed over the bar. Then a neat piece of interplay between Jagger Cane, who adeptly flicked on to Swann who put a good cross in, narrowly went beyond the lurking Koita.

Down the other end, Minhas who carved out an opportunity of his own making, couldn’t keep his shot down. However, it was Tivvy who looked more dangerous in the final third at that point and were playing attractively through the team.

That attacking intent was rewarded when Koita played in his strike partner Jagger Cane and he was sent tumbling before he could pull the trigger. The Referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot in the 71st minute.

Birthday boy Tor Swann celebrated his 22nd with a confident penalty that sent Wynne Jones the wrong way and equalised for his team. This was a third goal in as many games for him and Tiverton’s improved cutting edge has also coincided with Jagger Cane’s return from injury.

A rejuvenated Koita who is in fine form at the moment, made way for Aiden Horne after 80 minutes, but unlike the previous Saturday against Taunton, the side were unable to see the game out.

Chertsey who had made a flurry of substitutions, saw one of them Dan Berry make the defining impact on the match. Hall had done well in stretching to get ahead of onrushing Curfews’ and headed back to clear. His clearance though fell to Berry who calmly caressed the ball home in the 83rd minute.

The Yellows’ tried in vain to conjure up a Fourth goal, but it didn’t materialise and the home side maintained their lead until the final whistle. A frustrating loss and the team will be the first to accept that they could well have taken a point or even more away from this encounter.

Though as the dust settles on this game, it’s also good to remember that we are producing much more convincing performances at this present time and are playing our best football of the campaign.

Bovey Tracey are next on Tuesday night in an absorbing tie in the St Lukes Devon Bowl, at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium , which reunites Asa Hall with Ben Gerring who will be in the away dugout. The biggest game of next week though is also at home, when fellow strugglers Hanwell are the visitors at The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium.

Tiverton: Wonnacott, Wilkins, Down(c), Hutchinson, Koerner(45), Hall, Billington, Wellington, Swann, Jagger Cane, Koita(77)

Subs: Ross(GK), Wood, Keates(45), Horne(77)