Match Report - Marlow

Tiverton Town 3 

Britton 30, Cummins 75, Koita 90+3 

Marlow 2 

Nawaf 71, Brown 90+4 

Attendance: 642 

Saturday 26th April 2025 

The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium 

The curtain came down on the Yellows’ campaign, but not before they had completed a miraculous escape!  

What had been perceived as a predictable relegation after the season low 5-0 home loss to relegation rivals Basingstoke, was turned on its head by a managerial change that reinvigorated and inspired a team to achieve a remarkable transformation and the ultimate reward of an amazing survival. 

Players who were given limited game time or were frozen out previously; Dan Koita, Charlie Cummins and Jeff Forkuo, became important components in Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s matchday team selections.  

In the case of Koita, the Tiverton based striker repaid the faith shown in him by the new coaching team, by firing the Yellows to safety with six crucial goals in as many games and in the process, he demonstrated the ability that many have spoken about for several years. Since being handed a first start by Asa Hall, in his first game in charge his form has been exceptional. 

The glory is often exclusive to attacking players, however the decision to convert Cummins and Forkuo into defenders from their previous midfield berths proved a masterstroke and their performances were often outstanding and at the least very good since their positional changes, following time on the bench. 

All three were in the matchday eleven, with Forkuo recovering from illness to return after missing the Taunton game. That was Tivvy’s only change, with Gabe Billington back amongst the subs. 

Tiverton were one of seven teams that were under the threat of relegation going into this final game of the campaign and were the lowest positioned of those teams, with Frome and Marlow already down and two other teams set to join them. Only a victory would give them a chance of retaining their Southern League Premier South status.  

Having a far inferior goal difference to the other six sides, meant that Chertsey in 14th place were out of our reach. Bracknell(15th) and Poole(16th) only needed a point to end the season above us and Basingstoke(17th), Winchester(18th) and Supermarine(19th), with wins would also stay in front of us. 

Marlow, Saturday’s visitors had their fate sealed a while back but had beaten Tivvy in the reverse fixture and nothing can be assumed in this division. 

Prior to kick off there was a minute’s applause for a Marlow supporter and Volunteer who had passed, following terminal illness. This was well observed and all at Tiverton extend our sympathy to the family and friends of Luke Woodward. 

For the second home game running, a crowd in excess of 600 witnessed the action. With a mixture of hope and uncertainty, when the referee’s whistle started the game, the Yellows had the better of the early play. 

Tivvy weren’t quite as fluent, as they have been in the run in, but understandably so, with what was riding on the various outcomes of the afternoon. Marlow conceded a few free kicks just outside of their box, as Asa Hall’s men probed for an opener to settle the nerves. 

An earlier free kick, saw Marlow clear comfortably, but from a second one after the dangerous Koita had been tripped whilst in his stride, Kamil Roberts our dead ball specialist, saw his effort palmed away for a corner, by Harrison Rhone, a keeper on loan from Reading. 

In the 12th minute Asa Hall got the wrong side of his defender and finished well after Tiverton had recycled the corner and returned the ball back into the area. An offside flag, cut short what were muted celebrations from the Yellows players, who didn’t question the decision. 

With 18 minutes played, Niall Thompson who had combined well with Hall and Parker, delivered a good cross into the area. Matt Britton leapt highest, but he could only direct his attempted header beyond the upright. 

The game was fairly open and throughout the afternoon, when Marlow did attack, their diminutive number 11, Naweer Nawaf was as threatening as anyone with his quick dancing feet and intelligent movement. 

For about ten minutes the game became a little scrappy and tension was escalating on and off the pitch, with result’s elsewhere putting things on a knife edge and Tiverton still searching for that elusive goal. Needing a cool head to do just that, our captain Matt Britton eased the pressure. 

From an initial corner that was half dealt with by the Marlow rearguard, a second cross in, found the run of the midfielder, who calmly lashed home in the 29th minute from point blank range, much to the relief of players and fans alike. 

This settled the Yellows who were a lot more cohesive in their play and produced some good football in the period before half time. Marlow although never dominant had promising possession and on a few occasions manufactured half chances.  

However, they were off target with their shooting and although there was a bit of a scramble in our area and the impressive Nawaf to contend with, The Tivvy backline held firm and Will Howard between the sticks was relatively untroubled. 

We reached the halfway point with a deserved lead and results around the grounds revealed that both Basingstoke and Poole were Two goals in front, Bracknell were leading Sholing 1-0, Supermarine were losing at Walton & Hersham and with Winchester and Taunton drawing, we were safe but hanging on by a thread. 

It was Marlow who were in the ascendancy when we got back underway, forcing a decent save from Howard in the 47th minute and those opening exchanges in the closing period, suggested that Tivvy weren’t going to have things all their own way. 

The Yellows though responded with some flowing interplay and Joe Parker’s speculative chip about five minutes later, although clearing the bar, seemed to relax the side. 

Dylan Jones and Niall Thompson were finding space to run into, and this resulted in us forcing several corners. Sholing had found an equaliser against Bracknell and the results in our favour were still just about going for us. 

In the 64th minute Gabe Billington replaced Niall Thompson. A few minutes later, from another corner Toby Down thumped a header fractionally wide and then a foul on Asa Hall who was constantly rallying the troops and driving them on. He was brought down over on Marlow’s left, about seven yards outside the area. 

Jamil Roberts and Joe Parker stood over the free kick and the latter took, only to lose his footing when trying a sneaky low curler around Marlow’s wall and the ball went harmlessly away from goal. 

But as often happens with a slender one goal lead and when you don’t press an advantage home, the Yellows after a short spell of Marlow pressure conceded. The equaliser coming from Nawaf who had given notice of his threat on a fair few occasions prior to that. 

Tiverton lost possession just outside of the box and when the ball was pulled back to him, he produced a neat finish that wasn’t just an equaliser but also at the time, the Marlow wingers goal felt like a hammer blow. 

With determined encouragement from Steve Orchard on the bench and Asa Hall on the field, within 4 minutes we were back in front.  

Some backs to the wall defending from Marlow after a Jamil Roberts corner, saw a series of blocks from the visitors keep Tiverton out. However, the scramble saw the Blues unable to clear to safety and from close in, Charlie Cummins forced the ball into the net. This prompted both celebration and relief in equal measure. 

News then filtered through that Sholing had taken the lead against Bracknell, meaning that a Third game out of the Five that could affect us, was also evolving favourably. In the 80th minute Marcus Day entered the field of play and replaced Jamil Roberts. 

The Yellows were sitting deeper and not intentionally holding on to what they’d got, but desperate not to concede again, with little time to come back if they did. Marlow however sensed an opportunity to get something from their afternoon in Devon and began to throw caution to the wind. 

Harrison Rhone their goalkeeper, was beginning to take chances and had already embarked on a dribble upfield. When trying to play as a sweeper in the third minute of added time, he was caught in ‘no man’s land’. Koita getting to the ball before rounding him, but a heavy touch appeared to take the ball too far away from goal.  

Such is the ex-Tavistock and Willand player`s confidence at the moment though, that not much of an adjustment was required, as he impressively floated his effort into the net from distance, to send the fans into raptures and to give us all some breathing space. 

A minute later we were back living on our nerves though, when a corner was swept in at the near post by Stefan Brown, with just a minute remaining. The Yellows got to the final whistle without any further addition to the score but had an anxious wait with some games still not over.  

However, with the confirmation of the score lines required ending with a highly unlikely survival being secured, scenes of unbridled celebration ensued between players and fans, as the heroics of Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s side were emotionally recognised, with total admiration. 

The celebrations continued in the clubhouse after and what a wonderful attitude from all involved on the playing side.  

The last season demanded true grit, to stave off the threat of relegation, but when you consider that we had virtually spent most of the season in the bottom four and had lacked stability for most of that time too, what a job Asa’s men have done! 

See you all next season, as we look to build on the performances and spirit in the dressing room and on the field. Have a good summer ! 

Tiverton Town: Howard, Forkuo, Down, Cummins, Roberts, Britton, Hall, D. Jones, Thompson, Parker, Koita. 

Substitutes: Beardwell, Gleeson, Billington, Day, J. Jones.