Tiverton Town v Kings Langley Report

It’s hard to believe that the Yellows would have to wait until the end of September/beginning of October to register back to back wins for the first time this season but that’s what is now recorded in the history books. The second victory in five days though, over a Kings Langley side that had beaten Poole Town 3-0 in their midweek match, was nothing more than they deserved.

The Rogers management duo, back together at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium for the first time since Martyns short retirement came to an end recently, named an unchanged starting XI from those that had come from behind to win at Merthyr last time out which meant Jimmy Weeks kept his place in goal, with Lewis Williams still recovering from a knock.

As starts to matches go, the Yellows got off to a flier. On loan winger Nelson Iseguan measured a pass perfectly for Egan to run on to and his centre from the dead ball line found eventual Man of the Match Dan Hayfield in space inside the area and he drilled his shot past Langley keeper Liam Studley at his near post just as five minutes had registered and only a very tight offside decision denied the home side a second, Koszela adjudged to have gone fractionally too early on seventeen. In recent weeks the Yellows Achilles heel has been a failure to convert periods of superiority into goals, thus allowing their opposition avenues back in and come the half time whistle with no further additions to the score, home fans would have been forgiven for thinking ‘here we go again’.

But the start to the second period was even better than the first as Austen Booth smashed home a volley from about twelve yards after Hayfields delivery had only been part cleared with less than three minutes played. Two nil became two one on fifty-five when the visitors were awarded a spot kick, for what and against who I couldn’t say, but nonetheless Rod Collins despatched his kick despite Weeks guessing correctly which way he would go and all of a sudden Langley tails were up and sensed that the unlikely comeback was on.

Comeback thoughts continued to linger until seventeen minutes from time when Gary Warren headed home a Dan Hayfield free kick and they were firmly put to bed in the last minute of the ninety when Player of the Month for September Matt Wright sent second half substitute Theo Simpson scampering through on goal and the striker bagged his third goal in as many appearances to give the score line a look more befitting of the Yellows overall performance.

Tiverton Town: Jimmy Weeks, Kyle Egan, Craig Woodman (Joe Belsten 36), Aaron Dawson (Alex Moyes 63), Gary Warren, Austen Booth, Louis Morison, DAN HAYFIELD, Matt Wright, Olaf Koszela (Theo Simpson 70), Nelson Iseguan. Goals: Dan Hayfield 5, Austen Booth 48, Gary Warren 73, Theo Simpson 89. Attendance: 252