Cup Run is Over

Saturday, August 31 . Ian Moorcroft Stadium . 3pm

Tiverton Town 0 

Wimborne Town 3 (Fletcher 29, 39, Neale 51) 

Emirates FA Cup first qualifying round

AS the scoreline suggests, this was far from the result or performance expected in this competition. Entertaining a Wimborne side, hardly high on confidence after three losses on the spin, we never gained control of the game or ever looked like anything other than losing this encounter.

Off games happen throughout a season but, unfortunately, we were often second best during a game when the right result  was achieved by our visitors with our FA Cup campaign in its infancy. A comfortable away victory for the Magpies was just desserts for their afternoon’s endeavours.

For the Yellows, this was back to the drawing board.

Leigh Robinson made changes as forwards Leighton Thomas and Ryan Crawford made way for the returning Farren Simons and Josh Jones. This saw Asa Hall move back into midfield as Jones took his place alongside Mike Baker in the heart of the Yellows’ defence with Jay Murray playing in a more advanced forward role on the right and Simons doing the same on the left.

The action was pretty circumspect when the match began, but Hall’s slotted effort wide was at least an early beacon of hope, this after a bustling, weaving run from Dylan Jones. It was, however, the visitors who were finding more joy through the thirds and knitting play together, whereas we were wasteful in possession and disjointed.

Matt Burrows, Wimborne’s number 11 found time and space to display his talents as a pedestrian Yellows stood off. Tiverton had served little or no attacking threat in the first half-hour of the game and, just before that mark, a 29th-minute opener from former Poole and Dorchester striker Will Fletcher was no more than the Magpies deserved.

Murray’s ill-judged back pass set Wimborne on the attack and exposed Tivvy, goalkeeper Fiachra Pagel’s bold decision to come out to clear backfiring as he missed the ball, leaving Fletcher to stroke home into an open net.

The away side’s lead was doubled when hesitation in the defensive areas from the Yellows saw Fletcher add to his tally. There was an appeal for an infringement from a Wimborne player and an offside but the referee stuck by his original decision.

What was more apparent, however, with us heading for the break, was a lack of urgency in Tiverton’s ranks as, with the exception of the outstanding Dylan Jones, who was busting a gut, the tempo of our play was befitting of an early pre-season game.

Both teams went off for their half-time refreshments in very contrasting moods:  Wimborne with seemingly little to get worried about and the Yellows with the weight of the world upon their shoulders.

A triple change saw Thomas, Crawford and Jeremy enter and Murray, Simons and Forkuo exit when we resumed. However, only six minutes into the second half, the writing was on the wall as Matt Neale furthered the Magpies’ lead when the Yellows were opened up by Jez Bedford’s probing pass.

Ross Flitney made a decent stop as the Yellows momentarily threatened with the bright and hungry Theo Jeremy skilfully taking the ball past a few Wimborne players down our left before pulling back an excellent cross. It was met by Hall, whose header was saved by the largely redundant ’keeper.

Then Pagel made a fine stop to deny Burrows, who was a danger throughout. Kyle Anderson then replaced Baker, who had suffered a head injury. Joe Parker could not find the corner with a half-chance from the angle, but it was Wimborne who were comfortable and a comeback even with around 20 minutes to play was looking impossible.

Dylan Jones, defensively and going forward, was full of boundless energy and determination. His skill levels were also superb and no-one could doubt his commitment to the cause. Jeremy is 17, young, and making his way in the game but his attitude, ability and positivity are also a plus. Kyle Anderson, too, was busy and looked keen to do well during his substitute appearance.

Just before the final whistle, the Magpies thought they had added a fourth. However, an offside flag came to Tivvy’s rescue.

So the game finished with us exiting the FA Cup at the first hurdle once again. Yes, it does seem we have developed a bit of a curse in this competition, but I think I would be very foolish to say that the performance yesterday was acceptable.

I know that, between now and our next game at Gosport, that our coaching staff will be working hard to put this right.