Tivvy Remain In All Competitions After Dominant FA Trophy Victory
After being starved of cup success for many years, the Tiverton fans are once again basking in the glory of another win in the FA Trophy and a fourth win overall in cup competitions. A Billy Tucker inspired Yellows’ overcame divisional rivals Larkhall 3-0 to put their name in the hat, for the Third Round Qualifying draw, to be made on Monday at 1pm on Talksport.
Owen Howe was unavailable for this one and both Finn Roberts(suspended) and Louis Jagger Cane(injured) were also missing from the Yellows’ squad. However, the aforementioned Billy Tucker made a telling return and formed a twin strike force with Aiden Horne.
St Blazey’s tormentor Karim Coulibaly was amongst the substitutes and also on the bench were; Corey Koerner, Jack Kennell, Caleb Pryce Hall and Cole Harford. Asa Hall and his coaching team persevered with the same backline that has been highly effective in recent weeks. Both Wellington brothers, Hall himself and Ryan Keates made up Tivvy’s midfield.
It was a confident start from Tiverton who made early inroads into our opponent’s half. The impulsive Horne with lively movement and Tucker displaying an array of feints and skilled manipulation of the play heavily to the fore. Horne was a whisker away from capitalising on the Yellows’ early pressure.
His darting run behind saw him latch onto a long searching ball that turned Larkhall’s defence around. A last-ditch tackle stopped him, as he was lining up his shot in the eighth minute.
Then a long throw was launched by Tucker from out by the corner flag and with the Yellows' sending the cavalry up, it required a good defensive header from the visitor’s captain Sam Boulton to stop a posse of Tiverton players from getting a decisive touch on the ball. An Inswinging corner then forced the ex yellow keeper Liam Armstrong to punch, as the pressure was ramped up.
Aaron Wellington then neatly turned away from his marker and spread the play to Tucker, who in turn set Mason Winter free down the Larks’ left. He was able to reach the byline, but his cross went out for a goal-kick with a Larkhall player contesting the ball and doing enough to end the attack.
The Yellows’ then switched their point of attack to the away side’s left. Louie Slough played out to Jacob Wellington's feet, who exchanged passes with Asa Hall. Wellington pulled the ball back for Hall, who much to his own frustration couldn’t find the target.
Larkhall’s forays into the Tiverton half although not constant highlighted a number of very good technical players that they have. Though, despite Harry Martinez and Milo Murgatroyd displaying their undoubted technical abilities, solid defensive work from Tivvy stopped them in their tracks.
Just before the Twenty minute mark, J.Wellington who had been demonstrating his technical abilities out on the Lark’s right was held back by the returning Jeff Forkuo, over by the technical area. The resulting free kick didn’t amount to anything significant, but a few minutes later Asa Hall’s men were ahead.
The heavily involved and influential Tucker seized on a moment of indecision in the visitor’s backline. Intercepting a weak pass, he shifted the ball away from the exposed Lark’s keeper Armstrong and finished clinically into the opposite corner. This sent our support behind the goal into rapturous celebrations.
Tiverton with their tail’s up we're finding their passes and J.Wellington on a couple of occasions with good footwork took the ball past several of the away side’s players. The irresistible Tucker though was shining and his skilful manipulation of the ball saw him thread blindside, perfectly weighted passes through to his strike partner, the lively Horne.
It was only desperate defending that was keeping Tivvy at bay, but with the game opening up the team owed a debt of gratitude to goalkeeper Louis Smith. The Lark's swift counter attack had broken through Tiverton’s defence and they were in on goal. Smith raced from his line and dived at a visiting player’s feet to recover the ball and the Yellows' breathed a big sigh of relief.
Half time was not far away, although the intensity of the game didn’t drop and a skilful piece of play from Horne saw him trick his way past a few players over by the corner flag and then he rolled the ball back to the edge of the area to Hall. His deflected shot forced a corner. Armstrong though collected Tucker’s delivery in.
With a few minutes remaining in the half, following more good interplay through the team, Tucker’s astute cushioned, volleyed pass, chipped the ball onto Horne. His goal-bound volleyed effort was vitally blocked and prevented an early goal of the season contender.
Larkhall dragged a shot wide, to remind us that they were very much in the game, just before the interval. However, it was Tiverton who deservedly headed for refreshments, a goal to the good with another 45 to play.
The Yellows' came hurtling out of the blocks when the game resumed and the away side were soon defending a corner. With the aerial threats of Ed Palmer, Asa Hall, Louie Slough and Matt Wood all in the area, it was Hall who rose highest and wasn’t far away, but his powerful header cleared the bar.
An intelligent, subtle threaded pass from Tucker, briefly opened the door for Horne in Larkhall’s box. Although the door was quickly closed, as an expertly timed block tackle came to the Bath side’s rescue. Prior to the hour mark, the coaching staff introduced Corey Koerner and Karim Coulibaly, as Wood and Keates made way.
Despite Tivvy seeing more of the ball, the visitors were at times proving a real handful in the final third and really should have equalised with just over an hour completed. A Larkhall attacker though, screwed his shot wide when well positioned to score.
Smith who continues to impress, then had to replicate his crucial intervention in the first half. The alert keeper diving on the ball just in the nick of time, to take the ball away from a Larks’ player, just about to pull the trigger in the box . The Yellows’ slender lead should have been a bigger one and nerves were starting to jangle around the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium.
Those nerves though were considerably eased in the 67th minute. J. Wellington was fouled down the away side’s right and from the free kick,Tucker arrowed the ball into the area and his delivery was met by a thumping header from Palmer. No-one was stopping him or the ball from going into the net.
Much like last week, with Hall’s goal at St Blazey, big players stepping up in big moments. That goal seemed to take the wind out of Larkhall’s sails. Another change was made at that stage, with Aaron Wellington coming off and Jack Kennell replacing him.
Some enterprising and determined play from Koerner saw him progress down the visitors’ right and cut into the box. He appeared to have lost the ball on a couple of occasions, but won it back. Unconvincing defending from the Lark’s then saw the ball back with him again and from close range he fired the ball home for his first goal for the Yellows’, much to his delight. 3-0
Two more substitutions followed with one eye on Tuesday’s League game at Dorchester. Caleb Pryce-Hall and Cole Harford entering and Tucker who was warmly applauded and cheered off along with Hall departing. Smith then superbly denied Larkhall a consolation goal, as he sprung high up to his right to claw away a stinging shot in the 85th minute.
Ed Palmer who had once again been colossal at the back, was enjoying himself and his sense of adventure saw him on a couple of occasions burst forward. Coulibaly’s clever flick in stoppage time found Harford, but he was crowded out when bearing down on goal and shortly afterwards the Referee called time on a very enjoyable day on home soil.
More cup success then, which was truly appreciated by the supporters. An excellent team performance, led by a sparkling display from Billy Tucker. However there is little time to celebrate or rest for the players, as they will face an extremely strong test in Dorset on Tuesday evening, with Dorchester on hosting duties.
Tiverton: Smith(GK), Winter, Wood(58), Palmer(C), Slough, Keates(58), A.Wellington(69), Hall(81), J.Wellington,Tucker(76), Horne
Subs: Koerner(58), Coulibaly(58), Kennell(69), Pryce Hall(76), Harford(81),
