Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South
Tiverton Town 0 Taunton Town 3 (Feltham 9, Grimes 45, Cummings 88)
Thursday, December 26 . 3pm . Ian Moorcroft Stadium
A VERY well attended Ian Moorcroft Stadium played host to a Boxing Day game between the Yellows and their local rivals Taunton Town with an electric atmosphere and both sets of fans’ in full voice. Bragging rights went to the visitors, despite the home team's best efforts.
Toby Down returned from suspension and Nat Jarvis also was back in the Tivvy starting line-up. Oli Jenkins took his place in a three at the back alongside Josh Jones and the aforementioned Down.
A frantic start to the game saw plenty of endeavour but little in the way of quality, pretty much a reality in most hard fought derbies. It came somewhat as a bolt out of the blue when Harris Feltham’s strike gave the Peacocks the lead, a good clean connection from the midfielder flying past Joe Duncan in the ninth minute.
It was tough going on a heavy pitch, but we are deep into winter and the conditions were very playable. From around the 25-minute mark, a period of concerted pressure from Tiverton that lasted for about ten minutes saw chances come and go as Taunton’s rearguard held firm.
A series of corners and Dylan Jones’ long throws saw Toby Down swivel and shoot sharply in the 27th minute from Josh Jones’ knock down, only for Peacocks’ ‘keeper Josh Gould to be conveniently placed to keep it out. Blocks, desperate defending and claims under pressure from Gould saw other opportunities stopped or not taken.
On the half-hour mark, we came close again to evening things up. A wicked delivery from a corner was met powerfully by the head of Asa Hall, but the busy Gould produced a fine reaction save to frustrate the Yellows.
Our visitors had weathered a Yellow storm. However, it was still Tiverton looking the more likely.
As so often happens when a side fails to capitalise when on top, they are punished. After a bit of respite a Peacocks’ break, saw them gain a corner. A dangerous looking ball was curled into the box and hesitancy in Tivvy’s defence allowed Nick Grimes to time his run to perfection and head home. This was a hammer blow for Rob Dray’s men and was the last act of the first half, with both sides returning to the dressing room.
The two-goal deficit could scarcely be believed. Credit to Taunton, though – they were clinical and took their few chances. Much to consider during half-time for the Yellows.
Although not as dominant as they had been for that second part of the first half, Tiverton were asking most of the questions and Taunton relied heavily on the knowhow of players who have played higher up the pyramid like Grimes and Eddie Jones, along with the hardworking Aysa Corrick defending from the front, to steady the ship.
In the 67th minute, a floated volleyed effort from Joe Parker clipped the stanchion attached to the crossbar as Tivvy pursued a goal that would give us a fighting chance of getting something from this game.
Dylan Jones, Javan Wright and Niall Thompson worked tirelessly in trying to drive their side forward. Efforts from Jones and Wright whistled wide. Thompson tore down the wing at every opportunity, but Taunton held firm, occasionally threatening on the break.
A raft of substitutions from the visitors saw ex Yellows Jack Rice and Alfie Moulden withdrawn. Both players were respectfully received and, with Taunton intent on shoring things up, the onus was on Tivvy to throw caution to the wind.
A few minutes earlier they almost paid for committing players forward and, in the 88th minute, the game was put beyond Tiverton. Chris Zebroski, a late second-half replacement, for the Peacocks, hurried us into a defensive mistake. The recipient was fellow substitute Exeter loanee Charlie Cummins, who found himself with the simple task of firing into a partially guarded goal.
Congratulations to a dogged and clinical Taunton.
The Yellows travel to Chertsey on Saturday, determined to upset the odds in achieving a positive result. There is a lot of football to be played between now and the end of the season.
Half the season has now been completed and we are all behind the coaching staff and players as we look to climb the table.
Yellows: Duncan, Thompson, Jenkins, J Jones, Down, Wright, Britton, Hall, D Jones, Jarvis, Parker. Substitutes: Churchley, Swann, Day, Bernard, Billington.
Attendance: 960.
Comments