Spirited Yellows Defeated

Tiverton Town 0

Berkhamsted 1

Busari 36

Saturday 18th October

The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium

Attendance: 306

As supporters we have become conditioned to the harsh reality of the team struggling in recent seasons and presently you can’t dress it up, there appears to be no quick fix. The Yellows toiled manfully in this game against Berkhamsted who were just below halfway in the table, before the start of play and won the possession count but were undone by a wicked deflection and a lack of conviction in the closing stages of promising moves.  

We looked more solid and less vulnerable in defensive areas, which is encouraging going forward, however when confidence has been ripped away from a side, it is a fine balance between tightening up and remaining an attacking threat. It’s as much mental, as it is physical throughout the team. 

For this game Plymouth Argyle loanee Zak Baker made a third debut for Tiverton, returning on a one-month loan deal. The popular keeper was behind a defence that saw the versatile Fin Rooke utilised as one of three centre backs, with Asa Hall joining Matt Wood who wore the captain’s armband in a unit that was completed by full backs Brooklyn Wilkins and Corey Koerner. 

Gabe Billington had recovered from injury and played in a midfield three consisting of Toby Stephens and Tor Swann additionally, with Louis Jagger Cane and Aiden Horne in the forward positions. 

A cagey, sometimes scrappy opening, saw neither side initially able to stamp their authority on the game. It wasn’t until the 10th minute that this encounter sprung into life when Tiverton won a throw, deep in The Comrades territory and Matt Wood launched the ball in and after a few desperate blocks from the Hertfordshire side inside the box denied the Yellows the lead, the ball was scrambled to the edge of the area and was met by Toby Stephens crisp connection, but deflected behind. 

Zak Baker re-familiarising himself with his surroundings then plucked the ball out of the air confidently, under pressure from two Berkhamsted attackers. That 13^th minute intervention, was followed up five minutes later, with a promising Tiverton attack that was brought to an abrupt halt just outside the box with a mistimed tackle from a Comrades player. 

Louis Jagger Cane’s well struck free kick brought a flying save from Charlie Horlock in the visitor’s goal. Tivvy were in the ascendancy at this point of the match and in the 25th minute, a quick throw was taken out on the away sides left, it was briefly intercepted but then given away to Tor Swann, who then squared across to Jagger Cane, who was ten yards out.  

This was perhaps our best opportunity to score, however Charley Barker’s block on the goal line, left a sting in his crown jewels, as Jagger Cane couldn’t find the corner of the goal and the Comrades hurriedly cleared to safety. 

Just beyond the 30-minute mark, Aiden Horne seemed to have a good shout for a penalty, as he appeared to be pushed in the box, not enough contact was the judgement. Confidence was building in Asa Hall and Steve Orchards ranks, but a cruel piece of bad luck was to follow. 

Minutes later the Comrades broke and won a throw in, in the final third. Some neat play around the Yellows’ box, culminated in a quick shift of feet from Billie Busari and a snapshot meant that the original trajectory of the ball had seen Zak Baker move across his goal, in the readiness of making a save. A wicked deflection off Matt Wood, however, left the already committed Baker stranded, as the ball ricocheted into the opposite corner. 

A goal down against the run of play and with recent history in mind, it was a psychological setback for the team.  Tor Swann did show blistering pace, in getting on the end of a ball over the top and finding Toby Stephens who got under his attempt and cleared the bar with interest, though it was our well drilled opponents who posed the greater threat at the end of the half. 

It opened up for ex Luton Town midfielder Adam Watkins, who perhaps unwisely moved the ball onto Busari, when better placed to score himself and the well-attended winger fired over. For the Yellows, a physical desire to win the ball, that had been lacking in recent games was evident in forceful tackles from the determined Wood and Finn Rooke. 

However, it was a slightly deflated Tiverton that trudged off at the end of the opening 45 minutes, with little reward for a decent first half showing. The fragility of a team well beaten at Evesham was this time though exposed in an unfortunate way. 

Encouraged by being in front at the break, it was Berkhamsted who settled the quickest in the second period, although some good football from them was stifled well by Tiverton’s defence.  Decisive defending keeping the Comrades at bay, with, Rooke, Wood and Hall, all holding firm. 

When the visitors did enter our box, strong challenges from Wood and Koerner thwarted the danger. In the 54^th minute a thumping late challenge on Tivvy playmaker Stephens was not well received by the fans by the clubhouse and what looked like a trip on the nimble Aiden Horne then went unpunished in the area. 

A second alleged foul on Horne out wide, was also decided to be a legal challenge minutes later. At the third time of asking a foul was awarded when Tor Swann was brought down. The free kick into the box was met well by Asa Hall, but his diving header drifted harmlessly wide. 

In the 66^th minute, Steve Orchard made his first change. Dan Koita coming on for Aiden Horne, who had put a real shift in. On 71 minutes, a tidy piece of forward play from Jagger Cane saw him find Stephens but his driven shot was just too high to trouble keeper Horlock. 

The Yellows started throwing caution to the wind and this left us susceptible to counter attacks. A strong hand was required by Zak Baker to keep out an effort from the Comrades American Striker Michael Harding, after a swift break.  

Back came Tiverton, but they were unable to open up Berkhamsted or call Horlock into serious action for the remainder of the game. There were substitute appearances for Jacob Wellington and Will Collins who has impressed for the Under 18’s. Off came Koerner and Rooke. The latter deserving his MOTM award for a very committed performance. 

It took a superb challenge from Wood near the end to deny Harding and despite the many positives that could be taken from this spirited display, after the capitulation at Evesham, Tivvy didn’t have quite enough on the day to add to their point’s tally. 

On Tuesday night Elburton Villa are the visitors in the St Lukes Devon Bowl and then Yate arrive on Saturday, as we return to league action. It’s a vital week ahead for the Yellows who will have plenty of game time before the weekend to find a winning formula. 

A 2-1 defeat in a closely fought affair in the reverse fixture will need to be avenged if we are to draw level with Yate on points. However, our goal difference will mean we would remain behind them. Let’s get down and support the lads for both games. 

Tiverton: Zak Baker, Brooklyn Wilkins, Corey Koerner (76), Toby Stephens, Matt Wood, Tor Swann, Asa Hall, Louis Jagger Cane, Gabe Billington, Finley Rooke (79), Aiden Horne (65).

Substitutes: John Ross, Dan Koita (65), Jacob Wellington (76), Will Collins (79).