Last Gasp Heartbreak for Yellows

Tiverton Town 2

Koita 24 Hutchinson 50

Yate Town 3

Jackson 25 (pen) Evans 61, 90+2

Saturday 25th October

Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

Attendance: 246

Both sides knew the enormity of this encounter and anything less than victory for Tiverton would result in them remaining adrift of Yate and a loss, Six points behind a relegation rival before the start of play, there was the hope that the Yellows could muster a win and draw level on points with the Bluebells’, although an inferior goal difference meant we realistically couldn’t go above them.

Asa Hall and Steve Orchard selected a more familiar starting line up following on from the Devon Bowl win against Elburton Villa, with the exception of new defender Harry Hutchinson who has arrived on loan from Dorchester Town and slotted in alongside captain Matt Wood.

Corey Koerner was back in the back four, Asa Hall returned to the midfield and strikers Jacob Jagger Cane and Dan Koita took the their places in the forward line. Jacob Wellington remaining in the eleven from Tuesday night. The substitutes were:Finn Rooke, Aiden Horne, Sergiu Lungu and Gabe Billington.

It was the visitors who were dominant in the first fifteen minutes of this vital game, on a heavy pitch. Only a few minutes into it, Rex Mannings was played in on goal, but blasted over. Ex Yellow Oli Jenkins then found Marlon Jackson in the area but his header was also too high. Then Jenkins himself produced a flying save from Zak Baker.

In the 13th minute, the alert Matt Woods tackle was decisive with option’s aplenty for the Bluebells, if it hadn’t been made. Also clearing away to safety to relieve Yate’s worrying onslaught. It was a nervy opening quarter of an hour from Tiverton, but gradually they found a way into the game.

Wellington released Koita down the flank and there was a pull back on him and a free kick was awarded. In the 23rd minute Asa Hall’s ball to the back post was a fraction away from beating Aaron Sainsbury in the Yate goal and also naggingly close to reaching Tor Swann. However, it went out for a goal kick.

A minute later though we took the lead. Koita opening his account, as he forced the ball into the net, despite the close attention’s of a couple of Yate defenders. Though Yellows celebrations turned out to be a little premature. Jenkin’s was tripped in Tivvy’s box and up stepped Jackson to level. A goal apiece in a breathless few minutes.

It was a cagier end to the first half, with each team reluctant to give the other an advantage. The majority of the play happened in the second third. An effort from distance from Yate in the 32nd minute didn’t lack power, but went quite a way wide, Swann then skilfully beat his man along the touchline, but couldn’t beat the first man with his cross in. Harry Hutchinson’s timely interception and clearance away, meant the Yellows’ backline was only momentarily exposed, with the interval not faraway.

The Two sides headed for the break on equal terms, though both knowing how big the prize of victory would be, come the game’s conclusion. Perhaps the Yellows’ were a little fortunate to have a share of the spoils at the halfway stage, but this tense meeting of the two sides was very much, all about the result.

When we did get back underway, it was Tiverton who had the bit between their teeth. Koita got a strong connection on a shot inside the Yate area, only to be denied by the glove’s of Sainsbury.

However when the ball went behind, a baffling goal kick was the decision.

Tivvy though did win a corner almost immediately and to cap what was a good debut from Hutchinson, he found the net to restore our lead, with 50 minutes on the clock. Predictably back came the Bluebells’. A 56th minute free kick was conceded in dangerous territory after a Tiverton player had handled.

Former Yellows favourite Matt Britton’s powerfully struck attempt drew an outstanding fingertip save from Baker in the 56th minute. A physical passage of the game ensued, as both sides wrestled for possession and strong challenges from the players on the pitch were the order of the day, as the pitch got heavier.

The visitors won a free kick, over on our left and a fully extended Baker, hung on well low down, from a testing delivery in. The pressure though did tell in the 67th minute, when from the away sides corner there was Substitute, Newport County loanee Corey Evans, to even things up.

This was a real ‘sting in the tail’ for Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s men, but very rarely can anyone question the spirit of this side and Hall responded by letting fly from range and although his effort went wide, it set the tone for a barnstorming end to the game.

Both sides were intent on going all out for a winner. Another brilliant stop in the 75th minute from Baker kept things all square and then a Tiverton counter was abruptly halted, with the Bluebells being short on numbers. Wellington being the recipient of a technical foul on 83 minutes.

With time running out, Tiverton went “all gun’s blazing” to get a crucial Third. Swann’s cross in was met by a flying Koita in the 86 th minute, whose header went just past the upright. Wellington’s progress was cut short again in the 87 th minute and when the free kick that followed was recycled, Swann couldn’t keep his shot down.

A few minutes later an Asa Hall pile-driver rattled the crossbar and then in time added on Matt Wood found substitute Aiden Horne, who lifted over from close range. Although the agony was to become more excruciating for the Yellows’, as despite Baker doing all he could to stop a last gasp winner for Yate, in stole Evans to slot home the games decider, almost at the death.

A jubilant Yate on the sound of the final whistle and a hugely disappointed Tiverton. How psychological this loss will be remains to be seen, but for the next few days at least this result will hurt. A visit to Walton & Hersham is next, a good footballing side who are notoriously strong performers on their 3G pitch. Our position in the league is far from being a good one, but nothing is a foregone conclusion and Asa Hall, Steve Orchard and the team will do all they can to cause an upset next Saturday.

Tiverton: Zak Baker, Brooklyn Wilkins (72), Corey Koerner, Toby Stephens, Matt Wood, Tor Swann, Asa Hall, Dan Koita, Louis Jagger Cane (66), Jacob Wellington, Harry Hutchinson.

Substitutes: Gabe Billington, Sergui Lungu, Finley Rooke (72), Aiden Horne (66).