Tivvy Exit Emirates FA Cup After Frustrating Day At The Office
The Yellows’ FA Cup campaign, which has been a wonderful ride for all at the club, ended in frustrating fashion at the hands of Southern League Premier South side Sholing. Asa Hall’s men were relentless especially in a one sided first half, but not ultimately ruthless and were made to pay for missed chances and not getting on the end of inviting crosses and passes into the box.
I think few anticipated the constant pressure that we were able to impose on our higher opponents in that opening period and a crucial penalty save, conceding a late heartbreaking match-winner and Ed Palmer’s stoppage time sending off, made this a tough defeat to take.
A wing back-like system saw Corey Koerner who had impressed off of the bench on Tuesday evening, return to the starting line up and Owen Howe was back to lead the line. The cup-tied Josh Bissett and Aiden Horne were the players who were replaced. The latter was amongst the substitutes.
With the stakes high, the opening of this game was predictably a little disjointed, as the teams battled for supremacy. Reassuringly though far from being outfought by a strongly built Sholing side, Tiverton were winning a lot of possession and were mostly first onto the second ball’s.
Koerner had already on a few occasions skipped in between and round a couple of visiting players down the Boatmen’s right and Mason Winter was also having joy down the opposite flank, with both Wellington brothers skilfully linking play and bursting forward themselves.
A solid looking defensive unit led by the dominant Palmer kept things tight and the away side were unable to get a foothold in the game. The Yellows' forced a few corners and Inswinging deliveries from either side, curling and dipping from Billy Tucker and Aaron Wellington, required some drastic clearing away to safety.
In the 18th minute, we quickly moved the ball. Crisp passes and good movement, with interplay unlocked the Boatmen out wide, Winter was sprung free, but couldn’t quite find a telling cross and ex Farnborough keeper Jack Turner plucked the ball out of the air.
Minutes later Howe swivelled and shot on the edge of the 18 yard box and forced Turner into a decent save, as he got down to his right and smothered. Then with the Yellows’ in the driving seat and regularly asking questions of their visitors, in the 21st minute they were awarded a penalty. It fell into the contentious category, but also the “I’ve seen em given”, one.
Anyway after a delay with strong protests from Sholing dismissed, Hall stepped up to take. It was a well struck, placed effort to Turner’s left, but he guessed right and expertly dived across to make a very good save to deny Hall and the Yellows', a goal that would have been a reward for their dominance at that stage.
Undeterred by this, they continued to push forward with Koerner skilfully weaving past Sholing players and combining to good effect with Louie Slough who was finding him with measured passes. Constant pressure, saw crosses high and low go dangerously into the box.
J. Wellington tricked his way round the back with some nimble footwork and pulled the ball back to the edge of the box. However, on too many occasions either indecision when we needed to be clinical or not being instinctive or slow to react, meant Sholing were able to either quickly close down, intercept or clear away, like they did on this occasion.
Tivvy continued to play some entertaining football though. A.Wellington embarked on a couple of lung busting runs, after being threaded through by Hall. He dragged a shot wide on the first one and on the second of those he found Howe in the 38th minute, whose snap- shot was charged down. Claims for a handball were ignored by the Referee, who was probably right.
Searching balls from the advanced Winter were also keeping the pressure ramped up and good handling was required, when the influential Tucker sent over a tantalising cross/shot that required Turner to claw away from the top corner of his goal. Though for all of the Yellows’ dominance they headed to the break without troubling the scorers.
It had been a rousing and exciting display from the team, but without that elusive goal, there was a realisation from our supporters who were in very good voice behind the goal, that our future in the competition would be at best, a difficult one.
When we returned, after some trickery and a series of feints from Tucker, he forced a corner down the Boatmens’ left. His superb, bending delivery into the box caused mayhem and a spot of pinball ensued. It fell briefly to Howe, who under pressure couldn’t make a decisive contact on the ball.
Tiverton continued to be in the ascendancy and a pirouette from J.Wellington in the centre circle, followed by him spreading the play to Winter with 52 minutes played, saw the former Bristol Manor Farm player whip a dangerous cross into the box. Desperate defending saw Sam Magri, a full Maltese international, almost score an own goal.
Ten minutes into the second half, Sholing understandably made multiple changes, as very little had been seen of them in an attacking sense. Palmer, Wood and Slough being impressively dominant.
Koerner was having an outstanding game and his skilful forays were making plenty of inroads down the visitor’s right and keeping us firmly on the front foot. J.Wellington was also making a nuisance of himself and a rapid shift of feet had him beating his man, before being abruptly brought down, as he was building up a head of steam.
A booking for the defender and a free kick deep into the away side’s territory was the result. Tucker’s attempt from the free kick wasn’t too far away, as it flashed past the post, just beyond the hour mark.
A few minutes later the Boatmen broke away after a few incisive passes and a recovering Wood brought his man down in an honest attempt to win the ball. The free kick was in a very threatening position and it was really the first real concern for the Yellows’ and goalkeeper Louis Smith, who lined up his wall.
They needn’t have worried though as the taker fired into the wall, which did its job. Changing the subject, for those that haven’t seen the Yellows’ this year, our keeper is very good with the ball at his feet and this enables us to build neatly from the back.
Anyway, back to the action. The visitors were starting to see more of the ball at that stage and for a few minutes threatened. Koerner picked up a booking, as they stretched us down our left and then from the free kick, a Sholing player stole in at the back post, but headed wide.
The pressure was growing now, not just because Sholing were getting on top a little, but because Tiverton hadn’t managed to score and Tivvy made their first substitution in the 75th minute. Attacking player Karim Coulibaly replacing defender Matt Wood.
There was another foul, this time a team foul committed by A. Wellington, with Tiverton left short after pushing players forward and then in the 81st minute we fell behind. Jaheim Dotse, a Wycombe Wanderers loanee, was played through as Tivvy tried to hold a high line and he finished well to put the Southampton based side in front.
This was a hammer blow, especially recounting the opportunities to score that we hadn’t taken. As much as we tried, there was to be no grandstand finish, as our opponents managed to see the rest of the game out without serious alarm. There was a penalty shout on substitute Horne, but going by the player’s reaction, the Referee probably made the right decision.
The Yellows' were counting the cost of those missed chances and also counting the cost of losing Ed Palmer for next Saturday’s FA Trophy game against Gosport. He was sent off after receiving what was a second yellow, following a heated exchange involving a number of players from both sides, in stoppage time.
A hugely disappointing end to a very good little run in the FA Cup that had been years in the making. The players can be proud of their efforts, but that won't numb the pain of losing a game, they clearly should have won.
Ilfracombe are next for Tiverton in the St Lukes Devon Bowl Trophy game. A home tie on Tuesday evening at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium, prior to another massive cup game in the FA Trophy, when as mentioned we host Gosport.
