Yellows Cruise Past Blues In St Luke's Bowl
A comprehensive win for the Yellows’, who once they got their noses in front were always in control of this one. There was a home debut handed to Josh Bissett, a return from suspension for Finn Roberts and other opportunities to shine for players who have not been regular starters for Asa Hall”s men, amongst regular fixtures in the matchday squad.
Aiden Horne was back in the starting line up and found his scoring touch again with an impressive hat trick and promising talents, defenders Lewis Flowers and Finn Hodge and forward Caleb Pryce-Hall were also involved from the outset. Matt Wood captained the side in Ed Palmer”s absence and midfielders Ryan Keates and Jack Kennell were others that began the game.
The South West Peninsula League Premier Division East side that faced the Yellows, Ilfracombe, currently sit in sixth place in that division, in what represents a good start for them, this term.
In the first minute Bissett charged down the Bluebird’s left, cut into the box purposefully and fired into the side-netting. After a frantic opening the tempo dropped, but it was Tiverton who were enjoying the lion’s share of possession, With Bissett and Corey Koerner making inroads down the flanks and midfield schemers Ryan Keates and Jack Kennell slickly dictating play in midfield.
With 18 minutes gone, good movement from Horne, saw him found with a long raking pass over the top. He looked up and squared to Roberts, who screwed his attempted shot wide, after what was a very enterprising piece of football.
Tiverton continued to press and after the Bluebirds conceded a corner out on their left, an inviting floated delivery reached captain on the night Matt Wood and from close in, he showed composure in sidefooting the ball home and widening the deficit for our visitors, in the 27th minute.
Five minutes late, a bludgeoned, spectacular first time attempt from Roberts, forced goalkeeper Kurt Parkin into a smart reaction save, that required a strong hand and then more top quality wing play from Bissett, saw his probing run end with a delightful, whipped in cross, which was volley home, with 38 minutes played, at the back post by the instinctive Horne.
It was that man again Bissett who once again caused Ilfracombe to retreat. He burst past a few defenders with the ball seemingly glued to his feet and then checked back onto his left foot. His curling effort didn’t test Parkin on this occasion, but did give further notice of Tivvy’s new exciting talent, with half time not far away.
However, the Yellows' were dominating on the verge of the interval and were firmly in the ascendancy, when deep into added time they added a third. A slick passing move through the team, ended with Aiden Hall guiding his diving header into the Ilfracombe net, to leave the away side with a mountain to climb.
Barely a minute after the restart a slotted pass played in Bissett, and his piledriver produced an agile piece of glovework from the keeper and prevented Tivvy from being virtually out of sight. The ex Mousehole winger was then tripped in a good area for a direct free kick. Unfortunately though the taker didn't get his angles right and Parkin comfortably caught the ball.
Because of Saturday’s imminent FA Trophy encounter against Gosport Borough, Asa Hall and his coaching staff utilised their squad and crowd favourite Billy Tucker came on for Koerner in the 64th minute. Koerner was once again very bright for Tivvy.
The visitors were enjoying their best moments of the match, either side of the substitution. They deservedly pulled one back, with twenty minutes remaining. A last ditch block had denied them minutes earlier, but this time a sweeping move was finished off by young striker Cass Beeton. 3-1.
Roberts took aim once again in the 76th minute. His thumping effort with little backlift or warning only fractionally whistling over the cross-bar, in the blink of an eye. Reasserting themselves on the match the ever threatening Bissett then let fly with a little over ten minutes left to play.
Unleashing a venomous shot at the end of a driving run that was strongly parried away by Parkin, who had given a good account of himself. However, in the 82nd minute his decision to play along the backline instead of kicking downfield, backfired. The alert Keates read the situation and his interception and finish from close range, restored the Yellows’ Three goal cushion.
A stonewall penalty for the Bluebirds was surprisingly not given by the Referee, with a clear trip in the area ignored.
There was still time for a fifth and Horne who has endured a bit of a barren spell on the scoring front put the gloss on his personal performance, with another assured strike to complete his hat-trick in second half stoppage time. Hopefully this should give Asa Hall’s men a bit of confidence in the final third, which they had been lacking.
It’s another big cup day at the weekend, when Gosport, like Sholing, Southern League Premier South opponents, visit the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium. It’s a further chance of cup glory in the FA Trophy. So once again let’s give the lads our support and be there on Saturday, to cheer them on.
Tiverton: Smith(GK), Flowers, Hodge, Wood(C), Koerner(64), Keates, Kennell, Roberts, Bissett(84), Pryce-Hall, Horne
Subs: Tucker(64), J.Wellington(84), A Wellington, Slough, Howe
Tiverton Town 5
Wood 27 Horne 38,45+2, 90+2,Keates 82
Ilfracombe 1
Beeton 70
