Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South
Tiverton Town 0
Gloucester City 1 (Hanks pen 64)
Saturday, September 28 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium. 3pm
BEFORE the season began, many pundits had installed Gloucester as a promotion favourite and, with a clearer picture emerging by every game in the Southern League Premier South, they went into this fixture in fourth place and, with their victory, moved up to second, behind Merthyr.
However, the Yellows can consider themselves unlucky and a little aggrieved about coming away from this one empty-handed.
Injury to Mike Baker saw Ben Gerring take his place in the Tiverton back line, as Josh Jones shuffled over to left centre-back, the position that Baker had vacated, and Gerring playing in his favoured right centre-back berth. An attacking change also saw Kai Churchley in a starting place and Jay Murray amongst the substitutes.
Both teams started with purpose and a very competitive opening saw a few chances come the way of each side.
The Yellows had the first opportunity as a ball over the top that found Tivvy talisman Joe Parker running in on goal was neatly taken by the former Gloucester man into his stride. But with the shackles of the well-built Ben Richards-Everton to contend with, the striker could not get the contact needed to beat goalkeeper Nathan Harvey.
It seemed that Parker was through again, but this time an offside flag came to the Tigers’ rescue. It then opened up around the box for a Gloucester forward, although, despite a clear sight of goal, his shot was caught by Zak Baker in his six-yard box.
Back down the other end a lung busting charge from Dylan Jones forced a corner and, from another corner a few minutes later, Asa Hall went close. Baker’s authorative kick was fed back by Parker, who laid off to Asa Hall, whose curler was marginally off target, going over the crossbar.
After being brought down just outside the box, Parker took the free-kick himself, but his decent strike was comfortably dealt with by Harvey.
Tiverton ’keeper Baker collected a few speculative efforts into his midriff and, on occasion, ex-pros Dayle Grubb (Forest Green Rovers) and Hanks (Cheltenham Town) put the Yellows on alert defensively, but overall we looked pretty solid against those threats.
Hall had a second chance to put us in front following yet another wonderful bit of technical and determined wing play from Dylan Jones, linking up with Parker prior to delivering an inviting curling cross into the area, that was met by the ex Torquay man. It was not far away from nestling in the goal, but his glancing header was just a fraction too high.
Gerring and Niall Thompson went into the book before the break as we reached the interval with neither side troubling the scorers. Possession had been fairly even, but the majority of the opportunities were definitely ours.
A little way into the second half, the busy Javan Wright was fouled just outside the D, but when Parker stepped up to take the free kick, the Tigers’ wall was equal to it. Hanks then saw an effort trickle wide, with Baker seemingly beaten. That came in the 57th minute and then, in the 62nd minute, the same player controversially put Gloucester in front.
A player-congested penalty area with Tiverton resolutely defending a corner that should have been a goal kick caused a little bit of mayhem. Following a few blocks as Yellows’ players put their bodies on the line, the ball appeared to have been pushed from Baker’s arms before a Gloucester player’s shot hit Gerring’s hand.
Gloucester appealed for a penalty and Tiverton appealed for a foul on the 'keeper. A delayed consultation with a linesman saw the referee fail his multiple-choice question and if previous offences had been taking into consideration, the players had every right to question this decision. The resulting penalty was despatched by Hanks, with no further punishment for Gerring.
There was then activity on the bench, as Leigh Robinson freshened up things. Murray entered as Theo Jeremy exited and that was followed by Matt Britton making way for Jeff Forkuo.
Tivvy responded well to going a goal behind and Thompson sprung forward on a number of occasions, accelerating to the bye-line and getting balls into the Tigers’ box.
Crawford and Farren Simons replaced Gerring and Churchley as the manager played almost all of his cards and, with the Yellows determined to see some reward for all of their efforts, Hall went agonisingly close to levelling things up. It took a phenomenal reaction stop from Harvey to deny his header to the corner in the sixth minute of seven minutes added time.
But it was not to be and it was Gloucester who took the win.
There is definitely greater consistency in our performances at the moment and we are becoming more battle hardened. Josh Jones looks almost back to his best and both he and Gerring had solid games.
The service to Parker can still be improved, to get full value for his abilities - some balls to feet and threaded down the channels will I’m sure be more beneficial.
However, the signs are encouraging as we look forward to the Isuzu FA Trophy visit of Dorchester next Saturday.
Yellows: Z Baker, Thompson, Gerring, J Jones, D Jones, Britton, Hall, Jeremy, Wright, Churchley, Parker. Substitutes: M Baker, Murray, Simons, Forkuo, Crawford.
Attendance: 276.
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