Youngsters Coulibaly and Collins shine for Asa Hall in a narrow defeat.

Match Report

Tuesday February 24th

At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

Tiverton Town 0

Dorchester Town 1

Moore 59

Att: 203

Darren Holmes

For almost an hour the Yellows’ had the better of this one. The game evened out following the Magpies’ hitting the front and the extra experience in the Dorchester side, perhaps made the difference after the goal. 

Asa Hall, Player Manager - Viv Curtis

Precocious talent's Karim Coulibaly and Will Collins expressed themselves and caused the Dorset side problems and the returning Toby Stephens's classy display reminded us of his impressive first incarnation. Though this was a very encouraging team performance that belied our league position. However ultimately getting over the line is something that has evaded us throughout the season, with only a few exceptions.

With Dan Koita and Aiden Horne not listed in the matchday squad, many may have felt that we wouldn't be threatening in forward areas, but this wasn't the case and fine margin’s meant we didn't take anything away from this Tuesday night encounter.

Despite Player's moving on since the away win back in August, believe It or not Six starter's remained from the reverse fixture and Three other's that started were on the bench that evening.

Dorchester included former fan favourite Joe Parker in their line up and this was definitely a game that the relegation threatened team would have been identified as almost a must-win, in the course of survival.

Playing with intensity and at a good tempo the Yellows’ came flying out of the traps. Stephen's made a tackle in the 4th minute that epitomised the

team's determination in recovering possession and being first to the ball. 

Then a few minutes later Will Collins latched onto a testing, searching ball over a Magpie’s high line. The young striker lifted his shot over keeper Gerard Benfield, but it span away wide of the goal, as a slick and purposeful Tiverton with impressive movement and creative interplay were in the ascendancy.

With Eleven minutes on the clock, Corey Koerner stepped away from a visiting Player who was anticipating a clearance and advanced into the away side's half. His pass released Jacob Wellington along the touchline and with some skilful manipulation of the ball, he skipped away from Two challenges, before laying it off. It inadvertently found it's way back to Wellington, but unfortunately the football got caught under his feet, in the area.

Karim Coulibally was then found by Asa Hall, Whose looping pass onto to the talented youngster was  collected neatly and it required back's to the wall defending, to turn the ball behind for a corner. There was constant pressure from Tiverton, as Hall's back post header was met by Wellington's half volley, which was went a whisker over the bar.

In the 22nd minute Brooklyn Wilkin's cut out a swift counter from the Magpie's. Nimbly intervening to quickly snuff out the threat in its infancy with a well timed tackle. A fired up Yellows’ were having the Lion's share of possession and a frustrated Luke Pardoe was cautioned for a late challenge on Wilkin’s, Five minutes later.

Collin’s and Coulibaly were stretching Wes Fogden’s team’s backline. Retaining possession when the ball was played to feet and willing runner’s when the ball was played in behind. With Stephen's dictating play in the centre of the park, in knitting our play together, just beyond the half-hour mark his inviting pass eventually reached the lively Wellington, whose powerfully struck shot ricocheted off of a Dorchester defender and over the crossbar.

Wellington was heavily involved in the final third for Tivvy and from the resulting corner Toby Down's header was headed goalward's by the ex Willand man. However the back-peddling Benfield was able to pluck the ball out of the air.

Although Dorchester broke on a good few occasions, their play lacked the spark that was evident in the Yellows’ display and move’s often broke down, prior to them getting into dangerous position's.

In the 40th Minute Matt Wood who along with Captain Down had marshalled the Tiverton backline well, had the ball in the Magpie's net from a set piece. The goal didn't stand though and was ruled out for offside.

As half time approached, Hall's free kick from the edge of the Dee was well directed, up and over the wall, but arrived at a comfortable height for Benfield who parried his attempt away. There hadn't been many better half’s in front of the home faithful this season and the 0-0 scoreline at the midway point was perhaps a little flattering to the visitor's.

Although slightly less fluent than in the previous 45, it was Tiverton who continued to look the most likely in opening the scoring. However, it was a bit of Cat ‘n’ mouse at the start of the concluding half. 

The game sprang back into action when a long throw into the Dorchester box caused panic. A series of block's kept Tivvy out. The decisive final one from Matt Wood's piledriver was deflected away for a corner in the 57th minute.

The Magpie's then had a sustained spell of pressure and after forcing a couple of throw in's deep in our territory, the ball went behind for a corner. Midfielder Corby Moore took and Wideman Marcus Daw’s fired a shot from inside the box, that was slightly deflected, beyond the previously untroubled John Ross and into the net.

For a good Five minutes this seemed to take the wind out of the Yellows’ sails, as Dorchester were dominant. Almost doubling their lead with goalscorer Daws firstly seeing a goalbound attempt, blocked away for a corner and then the Northern Irishman rattled the upright as the Magpies’ came on strongly.

John Ross then got a vital touch on a Charlie Wooding effort in the 67th minute, as the away side looked to take the game away from Tiverton. 

The game then became a bit disjointed and bad tempered. On 71 minutes Wilkin's challenge probably deserved a booking, but the reaction of the Dorchester player was extremely aggressive, though bizarrely escaped a caution that could have been of either colour.

Ryan Crawford and Jack Kennell then replaced Karim Coulibaly who had played with quality throughout and Gabe Billington whose composed performance in the heart of Tivvy's midfield has been replicated on quite a few occasions recently.

Another incident after 76 minutes with Hall being on the receiving end of a poor challenge, saw both set's of Player's in an angry dispute. There were booking's for the Yellows’ Wood and the Magpies’ Wooding, as the match official's struggled to calm thing's down.

Jaydon Biss then came on for Brooklyn Wilkins, whose full bloodied performance was much appreciated by the fan's. Though irregardless of a concerted effort from Tiverton to gain a share of the spoils, they were unable to carve out a good opportunity in the remainder of the game. There was a debut off the bench handed to promising young Under 18 Harrison Jordan, as Hall made way.

Both team's seemed to tire on what was understandably a heavy pitch and the match ended with a jubilant Dorchester celebrating infront of a healthy away support. The Yellows’ can be proud of this showing and will travel to Berkhamsted on Saturday in not too bad shape.

Tiverton: Ross(GK), Wilkins(76), Wood, Down(c), Koerner, Hall(90), Billington(72), Stephens, Wellington, Coulibaly(72), Collins

Subs: Kennell(72), Crawford(72), Biss(76), Jordan(90)