Tiverton Town v Poole Report
Seven bookings and a straight red doesn't begin to tell the story of this game, the proverbial game of two halves as a pedestrian first half performance improved after the break with display of bravery and creative play that in the end should have seen a share of the spoils.
The Yellows were unchanged from the drab draw against Chesham United whilst the dolphins had ex-tivvy loanee leading the attack and fresh from his two goals the previous game. The Dolphins started on the front foot and a couple of early crosses were whipped in but dealt with by Lewis Williams. Moore's shot was blocked by a Tivvy leg but Poole kept pressing and went ahead in the 8th minute as Luke Holmes was caught by Gary Warren inside the box, yellow card for Gaz and a spot kick for Poole, despatched to Williams right by Lee. Tivvy continued their lacklustre display unable to string passes together until the 24th minute when Louis Morison is just inches away from levelling. But two minutes later the Dolphins went further ahead as a superb cross is headed home by Lee.
Lee should have completed his hat trick on 33 minutes but his lack of control allowed Williams to smother the ball. 2 minutes later Craig Woodman picked up a yellow for an off the ball incident. With five minutes to the break Chris Shepard sent a shot over from distance then Lee tested Williams who did well to hold onto the shot. The break saw Woodman, who was suffering from a groin injury, replaced by Neil Martin. Aaron Dawson had Tivvy's best chance in the 48th minute with a peach of a shot, Mark Childs producing a superb save in the Dolphins goal. We then saw Warren given a straight red, a decision that stunned many, including the Poole manager. Really should only have been a second yellow if that, which would have meant a one game ban instead of the three he now faces.
Within seconds Matt Wright should have got Tivvy back in it but somehow Childs pulls off a save from point blank range. Poole threaten to score again but fail to take the chance with four shots in the space of thirty seconds. In the 63rd Louis Morison is booked for dissent as things start to boli over and is subbed for Jordan Lam. In the 70th minute Neil Martin, looking impressive down the left crosses for Wright to head just wide. Olaf Koszela then has a seemingly open goal but a last ditch clearance lets the Dolphins off the hook. Theo Simpson, replaces Matt Wright in the 75th minute as the Yellows continue to press and is unlucky to see his shot cannon off the bar. With just two minutes to go the goal for the Yellows . so richly deserved is scored by Olaf from close range. Jordan Lam tries his luck from just outside the box but his effort curls wide just before the final whistle. Tivvy's improved second half performance with ten men for over thirty minutes just fails to net a point. An ugly 22 man melee involving both benches and stewards in the corner of the pitch on full time was totally unnecessary and saw Lewis Williams yellow carded.
Att 398