Ding Dong!

Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South

Tiverton Town 2 (Parker 10, 42)

Chertsey Town 3 (Mazzone 14, 55, Botti 82)

Saturday, August 17 . 3 pm . Ian Moorcroft Stadium

A DECISION that stunned an entire stadium and angered most will long live in the memory of Tiverton Town fans. Everybody makes mistakes but an apparent misjudgement by the match officials arguably cost the Yellows what would have been a well-earned point and the services of their Assistant Manager for a number of games. The air of injustice will not shift from my mind as I write this. More about that later. 

The Yellows lined up for this one with the same team that finished the previous Tuesday night’s heartening draw against Dorchester. Despite not being totally convincing in defensive areas, they looked most likely when the game began. 

A seventh-minute corner was earned by the quick-footed and often mesmerising Tor Swann, who carried the ball a long way before forcing a Chertsey defender to knock the ball behind. Nothing came from the ball in, but, minutes later, a superbly weighted pass from Jay Murray split the Curfews’ defence and the cross in came to Swann, whose five yard pass found the clinical Joe Parker. He confidently fired past goalkeeper Nick Jupp. 

TIvvy’s lead was short lived, as a defensive lapse saw Jack Mazzone, a steady accumulator of goals at this level, put the visitors on even terms. At this juncture, the two sides wrestled for ascendancy and asked questions of each respective backline. 

A brief hesitation left Josh Jones with a decision to make about 20 yards out, but not central and to the left side of our box. He fouled his opponent but only made light contact. Nevertheless, it was deemed a red card offence, but other officials may have seen this slightly differently, even though he was the last man. A contentious decision, but inconclusive compared to the decision made later in the game.

So, with Tiverton down to 10 and up against it, Murray was sacrificed in a bold move with the management team deciding to keep both strikers on as Calum Thomas joined Asa Hall in the centre of defence. Parker and Leighton Thomas had started the game strongly. 

Despite the numerical disadvantage and obvious reduction in possession of the football, it was the Yellows who posed the greater threat. The team were busy: captain Matt Britton and Hall were solid and commanding figures, with Jeff Forkuo working tirelessly in closing down the space and knitting together our attacking advances. 

Niall Thompson, whose trademark surges had to be utilised wisely, blazed forward in the 41st minute and Chertsey conceded a corner. The away side failed to totally clear their lines and, from point blank range, the predatorial Parker lashed into the roof of the net to put us ahead at the break. 

 There was an early opportunity for the impressive Swann to extend our lead, with Parker this time turning provider. Unfortunately Swann could not apply the finish and despite Jupp making himself big and saving well, it was a good chance. 

Then it was the turn of our ’keeper Matt Wonnacott to make the first of a series of fine second-half saves, showing razor sharp reflexes to deny a Chertsey player from point-blank range. However, he could do nothing with the Curfews’ equaliser as Mazzone matched Parker’s brace, expertly finding the corner of the net from a corner. 

The game ebbed and flowed from there and one of two changes that the visitors made at half-time was constantly troubling the Yellows. The introduction of forward Sam Ompreon gave Chertsey a source of danger that they did not have in the first half. The tall, tricky and powerful Ompreon was a menace in the final third. 

Tiverton expanded boundless energy being a player light. Leighton Thomas combined with Parker in flicking a header through to him and he was not far away from completing his hat-trick as his low scorching driven shot flashed narrowly past the post from the angle.  

A superb one-handed stop from Wonnacott from close range then rescued Tivvy. Down the other end, Leighton Thomas then delayed when running through and this allowed the Chertsey defence to get back and snuff out the danger. 

Thomas was then withdrawn on 70 minutes, having, like so many in Yellow and Black, given his all. Sixteen-year -old Ryan Crawford replaced him, having joined from Weston-super-Mare. The teenager was straight into the thick of it and, barely ten minutes into debut, was played in and faced with a one-on-one with Jupp, though unfortunately he could not find a finish and a good opportunity was spurned to restore the lead. 

The Curfews went in front when some sloppy play from a tiring Tiverton resulted in a corner and, from it, a free header at the back post for substitute Gianluca Botti was headed back where it come from into the goal.

That happened in the 82nd minute and prompted a nervy and exhilarating finish, Wonnacott, for a third time, foiling our visitors with an excellent reaction stop, before it opened up for Crawford on the 87th minute.

With Jupp out of position, he sent a well-flighted lob headed goalwards. In spite of Reuben Collins’ desperate pursuit, the ball clearly appeared to most in the ground to have crossed the line before he hooked it back from inside the goal.

When play was waved on, there was a mutual disbelief and shock around the ground, including the Chertsey players. Yellows’ first-team coach Ben Gerring was sent off for his reaction.

Seven minutes injury time was added. However, despite pressing for an equaliser, Chertsey prevailed and the game ended with the Curfews running out 3-2 winners.

Away from the headlines, this was a stirring and spirited display from the team, who have a right to feel aggrieved at the nature of this loss. We move on to next Saturday when we visit Bracknell Town. 

Attendance: 240.