Tiverton Town 0
Hungerford Town 3
Tyler 27, Marquez 45+2, 85
Att: 372
February 8th 2025
At The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium
The backdrop for this game was a new stadium sponsorship deal with Slee Blackwell Solicitors and Heroes Day which welcomed emergency services workers and members of the armed forces to the ground free of charge. The same offer was extended to employees at Tesco.
Josh Jones took the Captain's armband in the absence of the suspended Matt Britton, Gabe Billington returned to the Matchday Eleven and Kai Churchley also started.
Hungerford’s well documented impressive form had seen them take 16 points from the 18 available, in their last Six games. Former Liverpool and Bournemouth winger Jordan Ibe was amongst the Crusader’s substitutes and prolific attacking midfielder Jose Marquez was in manager Danny Robinson’s line up.
For 27 minutes until Hungerford took the lead, Tiverton were the dominant force in the game. Virtually all of the goalmouth action was down Hungerford’s end, as the Yellows’ created a handful of very good opportunities and several other half chances.
A rampant opening saw Tivvy constantly on the attack, with Joe Parker asking lots of questions in stretching the visitor’s backline.
Playing with real intent, Marcus Day and Niall Thompson moved menacingly down Hungerford’s left and Dylan Jones who has recently completed 100 games for the club was causing problems down the opposite flank. Kai Churchley was taking up some intelligent positions too.
In quick succession Kai Churchley had Two attempts to fire us ahead. On Six minutes dragging a shot wide and then in the Eighth minute his effort from inside the box was unfortunately straight at ex EFL Keeper Ryan Clarke.
About Five minutes later a good probing ball to the near post from Day, saw Nat Jarvis unable to get ahead of his alert marker, but this was another chance nevertheless. Then Dylan Jones was the provider for Day, who fired into the side netting from the Welshman’s wicked ball to just beyond the back post.
Four or five shots from the edge of the area from a host of Yellow’s went high and sometimes high and wide of the target, with Day, Thompson, Parker and Jones pulling back from the by-line.
However our relentless pursuit of an opening goal lacked composure as well as accuracy when applying the finishing touches and despite clearly being in the ascendancy, we became passive when Hungerford went ahead against the run of play.
Once again it appeared that we didn’t get the rub of the green. The Linesman’s flag stayed down, leaving Rhys Tyler after a scramble in the Yellows’ area the relatively simple task of firing into the exposed Joe Duncan’s net, which he did with 27 minutes played.
Of course another questionable decision from an official would have ruffled feathers, but from the moment the goal was given the Yellows’ didn’t regain their early momentum, with a few exceptions players didn't put enough pressure on the ball when Hungerford had possession
The difference of having belief and a winning mentality which Hungerford have acquired was in marked contrast to the fragility that was clearly evident in Tiverton’s performance for the remaining 63 minutes.
Two fantastic pieces of Goalkeeping from Duncan prevented the Crusaders’ from doubling their lead. The threatening Jose Marquez was denied from point blank range when he sharply reacted and spread himself. Then the much travelled Striker Kyle Tooze found Duncan yet again an agile barrier as he sprung and blocked.
A dangerous lunge on Duncan from imposing Centre Back Jordan Rose on 39 minutes, sparked fury from the Yellows’, especially when further contact on Duncan seemed to be what followed. A Yellow card was the outcome and another was issued to another Hungerford player, as in the aftermath of the incident, tempers flared.
An injury to Gabe Billington resulted in an enforced change after 42 minutes. He was replaced by fellow Exeter loanee Charlie Cummins. However further damage was soon to occur.
On the verge of half time and already into added time, Marquez's emphatic shot left us Two in arrears as the sides disappeared into the dressing rooms. The manner of our play and lack of positivity/ confidence, once Hungerford scored was worrying and the fans were hoping to see their team find a way back into this one.
When the Yellows’ resumed the change in personnel just prior to the break, caused a change of formation. Cummins joining Josh Jones and Toby Down in a Three, as Rob Dray and his coaching team preferred a wingback system.
We did start slightly better than we ended the first half when the game got back underway. Though a 50th minute Churchley effort that cleared the crossbar, following neat build up play, was as good as it got for Rob Dray’s men.
A powerful long range effort from Tyler, saw Duncan once again produce a save of distinction. His razor sharp reactions and athletic leap to the top corner of his goal, had him at full stretch tipping the Hungerford Captain’s blistering shot over.
In all truth though, we lacked inspiration and the cohesive unit that started the game so well, lived up to the label they are trying to lose; a struggling side. It’s fair to say that the natives were getting restless in the crowd with the side in the main treading water and not posing many problems to an assured Hungerford.
Dan Koita came on for Churchley in the 59th minute and Eleven minutes later former Liverpool and Bournemouth winger Jordan Ibe entered Proceedings, as Tooze made way.
There seemed to be constant danger everytime the Crusaders had the ball and although there were more half chances for them, than very good ones, some decent blocks and more good handling and awareness from Duncan kept the score down.
No one tried harder than Joe Parker in a Yellow & Black shirt and it took some excellent covering round from Tyler to stop him in his tracks, as we broke.
However in the 84th minute Hungerford breached our defensive line and the impressive Marquez added a third with a decisive finish, with the exposed Duncan in No man’s land. 3-0 was the final score.
Collectively today we simply weren’t good enough and didn’t play at the levels that will retain our status in this division. The Coaching team are determined to address our shortcomings on Saturday and will be up against Poole away next weekend. The Dolphins are in the relegation picture themselves.
It’s not over yet and there will be plenty of twists and turns before our campaign concludes, but one thing for sure we will need to be better and can’t afford too many more performances like the one against Hungerford. We go again.
Line up: Joe Duncan, Niall Thompson, Dylan Jones, Toby Down, Josh Jones, Asa Hall, Gabe Billington, Joe Parker, Marcus Day, Nat Jarvis, Kai Churchley.
Subs: Sam Gleeson, Dan Kiota, Jeff Forkuo, Charlie Cummins.