Yellows end Avenue hoodoo

Dorchester Town 1 

Smith 11 

Tiverton Town 3 

Wellington 3 Jagger Cane 31, 51 

Tuesday 12^th August  

The Avenue Stadium

Attendance: 548

Fast forward three days and with little time to let the dust settle on a 2-0 home reverse on Saturday to Chertsey, Asa Hall and Steve Orchard's men were back in action, as they visited Dorchester. Traditionally not a happy hunting ground, but the Yellows’ were not deterred by this. 

Making one change from Saturday, in came striker Louis Jagger Cane for Aiden Horne, who took his place amongst the substitutes while Dorchester included the recently departed and former Yellows’ favourite Joe Parker, in their starting eleven and also Josey Casa-Grande, the Bristol City keeper who had a brief loan spell with Tiverton in the 2023/24 season.   

It didn't take long for Tivvy or for Jacob Wellington to open their accounts for the season. In the third minute Dan Koita picked up the ball with his back facing Dorchester’s goal, he turned and squared to Wellington in the area, who shifted feet and finished well, across keeper Josey Casa- Grande and into the net for the dreamy of dream starts.

Wellington also got his head on a cross from Swann, as the Yellows’ broke at pace, but the ball climbed a little high on him and his header went over. It was Dorchester though that were posing the greater threat at that stage.  

Some superb handling from George Burton was required as a fizzing effort came to him low down, just inside his post and he smothered with Dorchester forward’s waiting for him to spill. Despite this, the hosts drew level in the eleventh minute. Joe Parker sprung free, away from his marker and his inviting cross was met by Tom Smith, who forcefully beat Burton from close range.  

Tiverton lived dangerously for a while, and in a scintillating passage of play, the Yellows were indebted to some excellent goalkeeping from Burton, who brilliantly denied our hosts with two superb acrobatic saves and other pieces of assured glovework and also by the resilience of the backline, for whom Dean Moxey was outstanding for the entirety of the match. 

However the quickness and crispness of passing in possession of the Tivvy side, was at times a delight to watch and good work from us in the final third saw Dorchester struggle with the decisiveness of our attacks. Two deliberate fouls stopped both Tor Swann and Dan Koita in their tracks.  

The two free kicks both called Casa-Grande into action and he handled well. Another ball into Wellington, who had timed his run to perfection into the box, once again arrived a little high and his header went behind. His 35 minute attempt preceded The Yellows’ second though by a few minutes.  

Louis Jagger Cane whose intelligent running was dragging and stretching the Dorchester defence, crossed into the box and the ball carried on powerfully beyond the back peddling Magpies’ Keeper and into the far top corner.  A little bit of fortune, but Tivvy had fired plenty of warning signs too. 

The Yellows’ were rampant for almost the remainder of the half. Swann with customary skilful footwork progressed centrally and produced a decent save from Casa Grande. Then Asa Hall with some clever footwork of his own after being found by the menacing Koita, dragged a shot narrowly wide. 

With the promptings of midfield schemer Toby Stephen’s beginning our attacks with his cultured passing, along with Moxey's vision from further back and the danger every time Koita and Swann found themselves running at The Magpies, Tiverton were clearly enjoying themselves. 

2-1 to Asa Hall & Steve Orchard’s side at the break, as they headed into the dressing room on top. Tiverton withstood a lot of Dorchester pressure before the half hour mark, but we were a constant threat in the final third. 

The team continued on the front foot after the interval. Swann tricked his way to the by-line in the 48^th minute and Dorchester’s keeper showed alertness, when plucking his cross out of the air, with the sharp Jagger Cane ready to pounce. 

 A further bit of classy play from Hall as Tiverton flooded forward saw the player-manager shape to shoot, buy himself some room and then unleash a stinging shot that was blocked at the foot of the post. 

In the 51^st minute our lead was extended. A superb defence splitting pass from the advanced Brooklyn Wilkins, was taken in his stride by Jagger Cane who expertly rounded Casa-Grande and placed home. A clinical piece of finishing from the frontman and a deserved brace for him.  

The Yellows didn’t stop there. There was a flow to our play and much good football to digest. Jagger Cane fired fractionally wide with the keeper at full stretch and there were appeals for penalties in the area for Koita and Swann who carried on dribbling past defenders. 

With about 20 minutes to go Dorchester started going for the jugular, but although they got plenty of crosses in, the well marshalled defence with Toby Down and Dean Moxey both outstanding at the helm held firm and when the Magpies did get beyond that formidable barrier, Burton’s glove work was excellent. Both full backs, Wilkins and Corey Koerner, stuck to their task and put really good shifts in. 

Gabe Billington and Zack William’s replaced Brooklyn Wilkins and Louis Jagger Cane, and in additional time Tor Swann made way for Aiden Horne, Steve Orchard managed the substitutions impressively. 

Luke Pardoe blazed over for the hosts but although their onslaught increased, Dorchester were taking chances and the Yellows nearly took advantage of this, when they broke. Tiverton prevailed though and an early away scalp was taken at The Avenue Stadium, against a team traditionally strong on home soil. 

Although there was much individual brilliance to admire on the night, this was a real team effort and a wonderful victory. The Dorset side could have few complaints with the outcome. 

Asa Hall, Steve Orchard and captain Toby Down can all be proud of their players, in responding to their opening day setback. It’s definitely a time though to keep our feet on the ground and to try and aspire to the standard set in this game. It’s Hungerford next on the road, on Saturday. 

Tiverton: George Burton, Brooklyn Wilkins (72), Toby Down, Dean Moxey, Asa Hall, Toby Stephens, Tor Swann (90), Jacob Wellington, Louis Jagger Cane (72), Dan Koita 

Substitutes: John Ross, Matt Wood, Gabe Billington (72), Aiden Horne (90), Zack Williams (72)