Terras Too Hot for Tivvy

Weymouth 4

Douglas 6, Bearwish 10, 13, Cook 68

Tiverton Town 1

Jagger Cane 31

Saturday 27th September

Bob Lucas Stadium

Attendance: 582

Tiverton had high hopes of pushing on from the home draw against Uxbridge the previous weekend, but those hopes were virtually extinguished in a torrid opening thirteen minutes at The Bob Lucas Stadium. The Yellows line up, returned to more of a familiar look from the one that won on Wednesday in the St Lukes’ Devon Bowl Trophy game at Honiton with eight changes, seeing George Burton back between the sticks and an otherwise unchanged line up from Uxbridge. 

This six-pointer had Weymouth beginning the day a point behind Tivvy and without this game ending in a victory for either, the likelihood was a place in the bottom four for both, which is where the Terras started the game and Tiverton ended the game. 

Steve Claridge`s side quickly had the Yellows penned in and fired wide on a few occasions, before a corner was converted by Kieran Douglas on six minutes, his header setting the tone for a thirteen-minute horror show, where all three goal scorers had time to pick their spots. Weymouth played some good football and wide player Luke Cook was proving hard to handle, but Tiverton, who weren’t punished for a slow and sloppy start against Uxbridge, found a less sympathetic opponent on Saturday. 

A retreating Tivvy saw the hosts extend their lead in the 10th minute when Tom Bearwish slotted home from close range and a bad day at the office worsened when Bearwish administered more pain on the Yellows with a 13^th minute third, in a similar fashion. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that almost every time the Terras’ attacked in that chastening opening period, that Tiverton were opened up and looked like conceding. 

Despite having the likes of Rueben Reid in their team, the home sides struggles on the pitch have been heavily publicised. Much praise has been given to Asa Hall and Steve Orchard’s men for the attractive nature of their play and rightly so, but the alarming ease in which we were dismantled will need to be addressed, and quickly. 

The Terras continued to be the aggressors and although the Yellows broke on a few occasions and enjoyed a little more possession, it was already beginning to look like damage limitation, although two free kicks in good crossing range were both wasted, as frustrations grew. An injury break with Burton receiving attention allowed the Yellows to get in a huddle with 26 minutes on the clock and playing with a little more self-belief on 31 minutes, the deficit was reduced. 

Dan Koita, inside his own half, over by the dugouts, took the ball around his marker along the touchline and outstripped another before picking out his accelerating strike partner Louis Jagger Cane, with a pinpoint pass come cross, who finished with aplomb, back across Weymouth’s keeper into the corner. This was the outstanding goal of the game and there was at least a sprinkling of optimism in the Yellows ranks and amongst our travelling support.  

A good spell prior to the break saw Aiden Horne dribble into the box, but he was dispossessed, before he could pull the trigger and Asa Hall also found him with a ball over the top but pressure on the ball meant he took it over the byline, although nothing could hide how difficult that first half had been for the Yellows, as they headed for refreshments and some words of wisdom from the management team. 

A more compact Tiverton was evident in the early exchanges of the second half, and it was a quiet opening, being slightly in the ascendancy with Tor Swann being a good outlet on Weymouth’s left and Toby Stephens also more involved. The Terras though then imposed themselves on the game once again, with an Andy Robinson header flashing wide and Rueben Reid hitting a combination of the crossbar and the upright, from point blank range. 

The next goal was obviously significant and in the 65^th minute, Swann tried his luck from the edge of the box after Tivvy had recycled the ball. However his well struck attempt was fired straight at Koita, who was quickly closed down, and Weymouth hurried the ball away for a corner. A consecutive corner followed and this time a decent opportunity fell to the predatory Jagger Cane, at the back-post. Unfortunately, though his volley rose over the crossbar. 

However, in keeping with the Yellows’ earlier defensive frailties a decisive fourth goal arrived for the hosts. Oakley Hanger’s whipped free kick in, saw a motionless Tivvy give the games outstanding player Luke Cook, the freedom of the Bob Lucas Stadium to turn home from close in, with 68 minutes played. 

We didn’t give up, but the writing was on the wall and the Terras’ restoring their three goal advantage was definitely a hammer-blow.  Substitute Euan Pollock brought a good save out of George Burton and Hall headed off the line to prevent a fifth goal and a Hall header back into the danger area found no takers for a late consolation goal. 

A 4-1 defeat then for Tiverton. An inquest into this performance, I’m certain will have taken place at half-time and at the end of the game, in the away dressing room. There are many games left to play, but some soul-searching will be required, before next Saturday’s FA Trophy game at Havant & Waterlooville. At this level of football, if you’re off it, there isn’t a team in this division that won’t take full advantage. The players will learn from this and I know were personally and collectively disappointed with yesterday. As fans’ we remain right behind you. 

Tiverton: George Burton, Corey Koerner, Toby Stephens, Matt Wood, Toby Down, Tor Swann, Asa Hall, Dan Koita (78), Louis Jagger Cane (78), Gabe Billington, Aiden Horne (63).

Substitutes: Brooklyn Wilkins, Jacob Wellington (78), Finley Rooke (78), Josh Salmon (63), Dean Moxey.