Match Preview | Taunton Town
- Tiverton Town Media Team
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Taunton Town v Tiverton Town
Monday 25th August 3pm Kick off
Cygnet Healthcare Stadium
With only a day in-between disappointments on Saturday, the two sides will be back in action to contest Bank Holiday Monday's local derby. The Yellows last visit to Wordsworth Drive saw them pick up a valuable point, which contributed hugely towards their survival at the business end of last season.
A narrow 1-0 victory was earned by early leaders Sholing at The Slee Blackwell Stadium, as after a fairly even opening period, they came on stronger in the second half and although Tiverton remained competitive, it was always the visitors who looked the more likely to break the deadlock and so it came to pass, when Michael Folivi delivered the decisive, match-winning blow eleven minutes from full time.
Taunton themselves also faltered, in London, as Walton & Hersham thanks to two-goal Dawid Rogalski, ended the Peacocks unbeaten run. His brace either side of a Kane Simpson goal, gave the home side a 2-1 win.
Both sides will be licking a few wounds and hoping to shrug off a few knocks, in this hotly anticipated game. Tivvy will be eager to take something from this one, with next Saturday’s FA Cup tie at The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium looming large.
There is a healthy contingent of ex Yellows at manager Richard Luffman’s disposal. The recently departed Niall Thompson, striker Kane Simpson, centre backs Austen Booth and Nick Grimes, along with former Player of the Year Jack Rice and midfielders Alfie Moulden and Tom Purrington will all be familiar faces to Tiverton fans while our club captain Toby Down had two spells with Taunton and the central defender is currently in a second, impressive stint with the Yellows.
In the pressure cooker atmosphere of a derby, Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s men will need to stand up and be counted. With the sequel on the horizon, it will be vital for them to compete and get a foothold in the game. This fixture appears to have come too early for Dean Moxey who is nursing a pulled muscle, although aside from there are not any other injuries. However, precautionary measures may be taken with some players.
A strike force boasting ex-Exeter City and Totton frontman Ben Seymour and Kane Simpson, who had an outstanding season for Merthyr, demonstrates a generous budget, with both of the former sides that the forwards played for, achieved promotion to the National League last term.
Owen Brain has been an outstanding performer for the Peacocks since signing for them from Bristol Manor Farm. Classy defenders Nick Grimes and Austen Booth have renewed their previous partnership which began at Truro, and this is a second reunion for the pairing at Taunton.
Two massive games coming up for the Yellows and although Rome wasn’t built in a day, momentum can be built with positive outcomes and there will be a determination in the Tiverton dressing room to more than give a good account of themselves on Monday. The psychology of football is perhaps more significant than ability alone.
