Tiverton travel to Gloucester

Match Preview

Gloucester City v Tiverton Town

Saturday January 24^th

3pm Kick Off

At The KMM Energy Stadium

With Tuesday evening's game falling victim to the adverse weather conditions, Tiverton travel to promotion challenging Gloucester City at the weekend. Both teams endured difficult afternoon's last Saturday. Whilst The Yellows’ are licking their wound's from their loss against Hanwell, the Tigers’ surprising defeat at Havant & Waterlooville will have hurt too.

Asa Hall's men have to move on quickly from the massive disappointment in their previous fixture and try to play to their maximum against a Gloucester side that are particularly strong at home. Only Farnham have taken all Three points away from the KMM Energy Stadium.

The team’s mentality will be as equally important as their footballing abilities versus a very talented team, that is well supported. Their is no hiding from the present situation, but there will be little sympathy or complacency from a play off placed opponent.

Daf William’s Gloucester are Third in the table and he can be happy with his work, in his first campaign. After taking over,the former Newport County caretaker manager/assistant manager had to cast his eye over the existing squad, before making the addition’s he felt necessary.

One of those early addition’s was Dylan Jones, so often an inspirational figure for Tiverton in our recent history. The talented and versatile wideman, is part of a squad that also includes ex Yellow’s Kane Simpson and Marcus Day.

Simpson’s injury hit stay at Tivvy, never really saw him display his full potential, but as Frome, Merthyr and Taunton fan’s will testify to, the gifted, powerful and athletic Marksman is not only prolific, but a real figurehead when leading the line.

He has a strike rate of better than a goal every other game and his move from Taunton to Gloucester during the season, seems to have coincided with the Peacock’s slide down the table. In 63 games since the start of the 2024/ 25 season, he has notched 32 goals.

Marcus Day, the skilful winger who has very good crossing ability often found himself surplus when it came to starting berth’s at The Slee Blackwell Stadium. However, the ex Bristol City trainee, I feel is a dangerous technician.

Forward/attacking midfielder Joe Hanks is having another strong campaign after a 20 goal season last term. Hanks who played 37 times for Cheltenham in the EFL, has 9 league goals to his name so far and should have been identified as a real threat.

The 30 year old has played further up the pyramid for Gloucester for whom he has made many appearances for and Chippenham in National South. Another strong option in the forward line is King Baidoo who is back at Gloucester after a loan spell with Yate, last term.

Winger Harry Pinchard is very much a driving force for the host’s and is a firm fan favourite. Beginning his senior career at Hereford, Pinchard received many plaudit’s in this division last season and is a key player for the Tigers’.

25 year old, cultured midfielder Sion Spence played in theEFL for Bristol Rovers and also signed on as a Pro for both Crystal Palace and Cardiff City. This is a second stint at Gloucester, the first being in National North and he has also played in National South for Havant & Waterlooville.

Left sided midfielder Harry Emmett is a local boy and his early senior career began at Cinderford. In the 2023/24 season he made the move to the tigers’ and is very much part of DafWilliam’s plans this term. He enjoyed a short loan spell with Redditch during the last campaign.

Attacking midfield Elis Watts is an exciting talent. Starting at Newport County, he played a few first team games. Watt’sabilities have seen him go on to serve the likes of; Aldershot, Farnborough, Weston Super Mare and Hungerford. The quickfooted Watts provides both goal’s and assists.

However there won’t be many player’s in this division with a CV that’s much better than Aaron Wildig. Bringing him with him from Newport County this was a marquee signing for William’s and Gloucester.

Playing 326 EFL games, Wildig is still a relatively young 33 years old. The midfielder was offered a contract at Newport, but was lured to the KMM Energy Stadium. Beginning his senior career with Cardiff City where he made 13 Championship appearances, he made his mark at Shrewsbury.

The high quality signing, played over 200 times for Morecombe in the EFL and 75 times for Newport. Additionally Wildig made Three appearances for Hamilton Academicals in the Scottish Premiership.

The defence contains Ben Richards-Everton. He was a hugepresence for our host’s, last term. The 34 yr old, 6ft 5 inch centre back, was playing at Tamworth in Conference Northand was tracked by a host of top EFL club’s. Although, he opted to play North of the border near the start of his senior career.

In 2014 he joined Partick Thistle, for whom he made Two Scottish Premiership appearances. He spent Three season’s in Scotland and also was with Dunfermline and Aidrieonians.Finally appearing in the EFL for Accrington Stanley, spendingTwo campaign’s there, the second in Division 1 after promotion.

Bradford followed and after 42 games there, he moved to National League Barnet in 2020/21. The centre back thenjoined Yeovil, was released after their relegation to National South and signed for our host’s. Leaving for Bromsgrove Sporting, then returning after Gloucester’s relegation to our division.

Defender Michael O’Regan starred for Evesham, when they gained promotion last season and was an ever present for them. Making over 100 league appearances for them, O’Regan fledgling senior career was spent at Stratford Town. He has taken the move to the Tigers’ in his stride, becoming a regular starter.

Ben Morgan was sent off in Gloucester’s FA Trophy exit against Marine and depending on the length of the ban, may or may not take part in this game. The 27 year old WelshCentre Back, Ben Morgan was at Bristol Rovers’ during his formative years.

With the experience he has amassed, when wearing the colour’s of Weymouth, Bath City and Havant & Waterlooville amongst other’s, he has already proven to be a strong Performer and key element in the tiger’s defence, in what is a second stint at our host’s.

In goal is Jared Thompson who has made the position his own, since arriving a little way in to the last campaign. As a young keeper he put his signature to pro forms with Chelsea in the 2017/18 season and was loaned out to Chippenham, where he played 40 times.

The much admired Thompson then joined Weymouth a few season’s back, before Gloucester acquired his services last term and he is a first choice.

Following all the rainfall in the West Country, the home side’s 3g pitch should make the difference in this game going ahead.The enormity of what lies in front of the player’s cannot be dismissed, but nothing is a foregone conclusion and the team will be looking to do themselves justice on Saturday.