Toon's Day

Saturday, November 9 . 3pm . Ian Moorcroft Stadium

Tiverton Town 1 (Parker 51)

Hanwell Town 2 (Edwards 49, Carr 82)

Pitching In Southern League, Premier Division South

TO use a boxing analogy, when you have your opponent on the ropes, you need to finish them off. Because this did not happen in a one-sided first half and telling blows were not landed, Tivvy's opponents were able to get off the ropes and take full advantage. 

For manager Rob Dray’s first league encounter at the Ian Moorcroft Stadium, two pivotal players returned: Niall Thompson, who had been missing from the starting line-up for a fair few weeks; and Dylan Jones, who missed last Saturday’s draw at Hungerford. 

Bristol City loanee goalkeeper Joe Duncan took the gloves in the absence of the injured Zak Baker, and, after an impressive display in midweek against Ilfracombe, Oli Jenkins started. Kai Churchley was also in an 11 that saw Jeff Forkuo and Josh Bernard drop to the bench. 

Before we got underway, we remembered those servicemen and servicewomen we lost in the first and second world wars and in other conflicts since, as well as the civilian casualties. It was a perfectly observed commemoration, with the playing of the Last Post; the laying of the wreaths in the centre circle from both teams in a show of unity; followed by a minute’s silence. 

Tiverton, looking hungry from the first whistle, quickly imposed themselves on the game. Giving Hanwell no time to settle, they controlled possession and set the tempo of play for virtually the whole of the first period. Slick passing and good movement off the ball and a compact shape epitomised a half arguably as good as anything we’ve seen from the Yellows up to this stage of the season. 

The understanding and link-up play between Bailey Kempster and Dylan Jones on our left was a joy to watch, exchanging passes at pace, overlapping and moving menacingly into dangerous areas, with positive running. 

Joe Parker fired wide in the 13th minute as a rampant Tivvy were the dominant force, exerting pressure with a fast moving entertaining brand of football. Kai Churchley, in the No.10 role, made an impact when linking up play with some excellent searching balls into the channels, that put us firmly on the front foot; Jenkins and Matt Britton hassled the Geordies, causing them to make mistakes; Tor Swann and Parker attacked with intent.

In spite of Tiverton getting into some excellent positions to finish, very often an extra touch quickly meant the chance disappeared and defensively, with some solid blocks and vital interceptions, Hanwell stood firm. So many times Tiverton got in behind with incisive play, however a lack of accuracy in the final third and finishing meant Sam Beasant, in the visitors’ goal, was in the main untroubled.

In the 36th minute, Chris Moore, Hanwell’s manager, was red-carded, having received a caution less than ten minutes earlier after persistently disputing refereeing decisions. 

It was a case of everything but the goal at the break. That said, I was probably not the only one thinking we could have gone in three or four goals ahead or indeed rue not making the most of all of that possession in the opening half.

Hanwell, a well-built side containing the imposing figures of centre-forward Alfie Pendlebury, centre-back Dwayne Duncan and tall, tricky midfielder Chris Regis amongst others, were a different proposition following the interval. 

There was not the same intensity to the Yellows’ game and the Geordies found another gear. Ezekiel Coker outstripped Tivvy’s defence before delivering a ball across that reached their top scorer Jordan Edwards, who finished well from about 10 yards out. 

Back came Tiverton almost immediately when our leading marksmen Parker, with some good close control, shifted the ball beyond his defender and a right-footed strike went across Beasant into the goal and evened things up. 

Forkuo replaced Thompson, who had played well and got vital minutes in the tank, on 63 minutes. Six minutes later a well-flighted ball in from a Tiverton free-kick was met by Josh Jones’ climb, but unfortunately he could not get enough leverage on his header and it was a routine save from the visitors’ ’keeper. Duncan then tipped over Edwards’ free-kick at the other end of the pitch. 

Whereas the Yellows had the monopoly on possession in the first half, it was the visitors who had wrestled it from them, Tivvy making the mistake of trying to outmuscle a side with greater physical attributes at times, but Hanwell also showing good quality through the likes of the cultured Mat Mackenzie, the dazzling feet of Regis, and the technical Edwards. 

Tiverton were still very much in the game, but it was Hanwell who were more fluent and presenting more danger in the final third. In the 77th minute, a powerful, driven attempt from Mackenzie blazed narrowly wide and, five minutes after that, a superb volley from a similar distance from Dan Carr produced what was to be the winner. 

Evander Grubb and Javan Wright came on for Tor Swann and Oli Jenkins respectively, but there was to be no dramatic equaliser for Tivvy and, although perhaps a draw would have been a fair result in the end, it was the Geordies who had been more clinical and that secured them all three points. 

It is early days for the recently appointed manager and his team. There was enough in the first half to suggest promising days ahead and I am sure that on November 20,  coaching and playing staff will have worked hard on the training field to tweak things for when they face Havant & Waterlooville away. 

Yellows: Duncan; Thompson, Hall, J Jones, Kempster, Britton, Jenkins, D Jones, Churchley, Swann, Parker. Substitutes: Grubb, Wright, Forkuo, Bernard, Harmer.

Attendance: 287.