Tiverton triumph over Taunton
- matthew30770
- Jan 4
- 6 min read
Match Report
Saturday January 3rd
At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium
Tiverton Town 2
Wellington 41 Koita 82
Taunton Town 1
Sanogo 78
Att 1173
An enthralling and encapsulating afternoon ended with a stirring win over our local rivals for the first time since 2020. For a good few months now the Yellows’ have been treading water result's wise. so to back up victory against our Devon Rival's Plymouth Parkway in a stunning way, versus Taunton is a measure of how well Asa Hall's men have performed over the Festive period.
The Management team of Hall, Steve Orchard and David Steele were able to call on the same player’s that achieved success at Bolitho Park, with the exception of the unavailable Jack Kennell. Midfielder Jacob Wellington coming into the starting Eleven and Aiden Horne amongst the substitutes.
Asa Hall deploying himself as a holding midfielder, with Harry Hutchinson partnering Toby Down in Central Defence and Brooklyn Wilkins the right sided full back and Corey Koerner on the left. Tor Swann, Gabe Billington and Wellington across our midfield, with Louis Jagger Cane and Dan Koita, up top.
The Taunton line up was littered with former Tiverton players. Jamie Richards, Niall Thompson, Jack Rice, Alfie Moulden and Tom Purrington were all starters for the Peacock’s. Our captain Toby Down of course, has a playing association with the Somerset side.
It was a pretty non-descript opening to this eagerly anticipated meeting, on a difficult playing surface. However, it was the Yellows’ who without seriously threatening who were more cohesive and enjoying the better of possession.
Swann giving notice in the early exchanges of the problems he would cause throughout, down Taunton’s left, Jagger Cane’s intelligent use of the ball and both his and Koita's movement to the fore. Billington and Wellington both busy and bright behind them.
In the Eighth minute Wilkins determination saw him win the ball and then launch an attack that saw Jagger Cane receive possession. He in turn fed Wellington who was impeded by the bobbly nature of the pitch and denied him a good crossing opportunity in a dangerous position.
A few minutes further into the game, Hutchinson’s forceful challenge set the wheels in motion for another Yellows’ attack. He found Swann with his pass out of defence and the skilful Winger twisted and turned his way along the touchline, delivering into the box an inviting cross, that sparked half-hearted appeals for handball.
A 16th minute header from Scott Robinson that went high and wide of Matt Wonnacott’s goal was the response from our visitor’s, as Tivvy presented a much more secure looking backline than they have done for the majority of this campaign.
Moment’s later Swann found himself in on goal, but dragged his shot wide and out for a Peacock goal kick. A crunching Down tackle then put an end to a promising move from the away side. Koerner was then deliberately tripped, but the resulting free kick went astray.
In the 24th minute Tiverton were again first to the ball, as Wilkin’s stepped in and played the ball onto Jagger Cane who with his back to goal, swivelled and his effort warmed Frankie Phillip’s gloves, low down but fairly central.
Swann continued to be a pest out wide and a quick shift away from his marker appeared to see his beaten defender handle on the ground, but the Referee waved play on. A bloodied Wilkins then left the field. He wasn’t replaced but his shirt was.
Then the talented Jack Rice who often cast’s himself as the pantomime villain, as Tivvy fan’s know, entered the Referee’s book. Rice who has a black belt in the dark arts testing the Match official’s patience with a combination of theatric’s and verbal’s.
Rice’s next meaningful involvement though saw him neatly combine with another ex Yellow Alfie Moulden, in the 33rd minute. Though the opportunity carved out by the former Tiverton Player of the year was flashed wide.
The industrious Gabe Billington then drew a tactical foul, which went unpunished as he was breaking into the Peacock’s half. Billington’s committed display, also seeing him manipulate play impressively when in control of the ball.
The Yellow’s were uninhibited in the final third. The classy Jagger Cane often finding little pocket’s in which to play in and stretch Taunton’s backline. Koita was really imposing himself on the game and the gifted frontman was a constant threat.
Tiverton always looked the more likely in the first half and the incisiveness of their play paid dividends when the alert Wellington nicked the ball past his defender and supplied a mature, accomplished finish in side-footing into the net and beating Phillips.
A buoyant Yellows’ and Wellington almost added to their lead on the verge of half time. A last ditch challenge around the six yard box arriving, just as he was about to pull the trigger. A set-piece then saw a thumping header from Hutchinson, produce a fantastic fingertip save from Taunton’s Exeter loanee.
A 1-0 lead at the break and deservedly so. Infact if Tivvy had added to that scoreline, few could have argued. Nothing was being taken for granted though, knowing how many times good position’s have been squandered this term.
The team took their momentum from the first 45 minutes, into the closing half. The home side were quickly on the front foot and Wellington was once again the perpetrator. Buying himself a bit of room with quick feet and firing a powerful shot at Phiĺlip’s, who strongly saved.
More teasing and tormenting from Swann then saw him drive Asa Hall’s men forward and the ball just evaded the accelerating Koerner. In the 57th minute Jagger Cane’s astute piece of footwork, opened the door for himself. Phillips’s excellent reaction save once again preventing his strong connection on the ball.
The high pressing Koita then turned over possession and carried on to the edge of the box, but he wasn’t able to get a clean shot away and the keeper’s save was a comfortable one. That happened in the 65th minute and Four minutes later his strike partner Louis Jagger Cane was replaced by Aiden Horne in a like-for- like substitution.
Taunton had been quite subdued up until this point, however their best spell in the game followed. Asa Hall had acted as a good defensive shield on a few occasions and his well timed sliding tackle on Rice was very necessary. The ball then fell kindly to Ben Seymour who lifted over.
Captain Toby Down then bravely headed away with Peacock predator’s circling in the home box, this was folowed by a vital block from Dorchester loanee Harry Hutchinson. In the 74th minute Hall was quick to anticipate a threatening Niall Thompson surge. His tackle going out for a throw in.
There was brief respite for the Yellows’ when Swann broke away and Taunton conceded a corner, but the away side’s equaliser wasn’t totally unexpected. Substitute Seidou Sanogo scrambling home after good work from fellow sub Owen Brain, on 78 minutes.
Anyone whose read the usual script will probably have guessed a different outcome. In the 80th minute Koita didn’t quite get enough on his attempt to trouble Phillips’, however it wasn’t long before he found a somewhat better connection.
An imperious break from Swann in the 82nd minute exposed Taunton’s defensive unit and keeper Phillip’s raced out of his goal to the wing, in looking to dispossess him. Swann though went past him, leaving him in no man’s land.
On reaching the by-line he pulled his cross back into the area and the onrushing Koita then produced an audacious overhead kick. As sublime a finish as you could wish to see from 12 yard’s out, with his marker helpless to react.
Technically I haven’t seen a goal any better than this since watching Tiverton from their final season in the league below. A superb bit of skill and athleticism from Dan Koita, the local boy. This sent the crowd delirious and was more than worth the entrance fee.
And once again like at Parkway, Tiverton saw the game out professionally. Vital intervention’s from Down, Hall and Hutchinson keeping their local rival’s at bay and Swann was thwarted when breaking into the Taunton area. Five minutes added time did little for the nerves, but the Yellows’ held on to a victory that was deserving.
A fantastic all round display for the fan’s to savour, hopefully for the side to build on and a Wonder goal. Tiverton will head to Chertsey this weekend with a bit of belief and momentum. The team are still quite a way adrift and it would be foolish to expect miracles, but what a six point’s over the Festive period. We should be immensely proud of the lads.
Tiverton: Wonnacott, Wilkins, Down(c), Hutchinson, Koerner, Hall, Billington, Wellington, Swann, Jagger Kane(69), Koita
Subs: Ross(GK), Wood, Keates, Horne(69),
