Yellows Humbled by Five-Star Evesham

Evesham United 5 

Steele 1, 52 Wright 10 Owens 38 Churchley 71 

Tiverton Town 0 

Saturday 11^th October  

The Spiers and Hartwell Stadium 

Attendance: 429 

There are certain levels that you must reach; in order to be competitive in this division and the Yellows were a long way off of these during this game. The worrying trend of conceding early goals reared its head again, this time with less than a minute played. Dean Moxey returned to start this game, having been an unused substitute on Tuesday night with Matt Wood dropping to the bench in the only change from the narrow home loss to Poole, when most thought Tiverton’s second half display would be a springboard to better results. 

From the kick off Tivvy created an early half chance, with them moving forward with purpose and a shot from the edge of the area was dragged wide but from the goal kick Evesham caught the Yellows cold and a threaded ball into the channel wasn’t dealt with and one pass later we were opened up and a goal down with less than a minute played, Levi Steele the recipient of Tiverton’s generosity. There were a few scares in between Evesham’s first and second, but the hosts didn't have to long to wait for their next goal. A penchant for retreating rather than making a challenge is sadly a feature of this Yellows team currently. 

In the ninth minute an Evesham midfielder ran with the ball for twenty yards without any pressure from the visitors and this left us stretched at the back, but the ease in which we were opened was not as easy to witness. Former Coventry City Striker Andre Wright getting on the end of Aaron Heap’s neat pass. Psychologically for the first time this season players heads noticeably dropped and in a poor run of form there is only so much punishment a team can take before self-belief drips out of them.  

A 15^th minute effort from Louis Jagger Cane called keeper Alex Harris into action, but the ball was at a nice height to parry away, then three minutes later Steele headed wide from close range and then an Evesham player lost his balance when well positioned to add a third. 

In the 32^nd minute, the Dean Moxey injury curse reoccurred, as he was chasing back with The Robins homing in on goal. After lengthy treatment from physio Tony Cornish with assistance from Evesham’s physio also, Moxey got to his feet, but his afternoon was over, and Matt Wood came on to replace him. Play continued for nearly five minutes after Moxey had gone down injured and when it did Evesham almost immediately won a corner and to compound the Yellows’ misery Will Owens took it and his delivery missed everyone but nestled in the far corner of George Burton’s net, to make Tiverton’s afternoon even worse. 

Toby Down gave away a free kick in a dangerous area in the 39^th minute and his challenge was deemed a yellow card offence. Thankfully Evesham were off target with this set-piece.  In the 43^rd minute Tor Swann crossed in and Asa Hall rose above everyone, but his header was flashed slightly wide. The injury to Moxey and Finn Rooke requiring attention earlier, amongst other stoppages resulted in ten minutes added time, at the end of the first half. A speculative free kick from Jagger Cane from at least 30 yards out went narrowly wide in stoppage time, but couldn’t detract from a painful first half. 

It was hard to see a way back for Tiverton in the second period, as we had been second best all over the park. Two changes were made at the break, as Dan Koita came on for Finn Rooke and Jacob Wellington made way for Corey Koerner. A combination of the Yellows good play and the Robins sitting back a little, saw the away side in the ascendancy for the opening five minutes when the players returned. Koita releasing Swann in the 49^th minute, but the skilful wide man couldn’t return the ball into Koita’s path. 

However, in the 52nd minute the side stared into the abyss. Steele was slid in for his second, by the Robins talented captain Amer Awadh at the end of a probing run for the home sides fourth. On the hour mark Wright committed a few Yellows defenders before his effort via Burton’s extended hand found the side netting. 

The resulting corner in, found a Robins player, who headed onto the top netting and out for a goal kick. In the 64^th minute Koita teed up Jagger Cane, with an inventive back heel, though his effort from close in, cleared the crossbar. Second half substitute Kai Churchley then got in on the act, ghosting past a few Tiverton defenders and then into the box, he was able to pick his spot beyond Burton and did just that. That goal was recorded at 71 minutes. In the closing twenty minutes it seemed that the only question was would a rampant Robins add more to what a damaging result was already. Two clear cut chances though for them didn’t add insult to injury.  

Substitute Ethan Dunbar’s effort from point blank range went under Burton who had moved to close down the angle, but deflected off his back and away for a corner. Then Lewis Middleton when in the clear, shot centrally and the Tiverton goalkeeper palmed over. A one-on-one for Jagger Cane in the 89th minute was saved by Harris and this was one of many duels that Evesham won on Saturday. A  5-0 loss perhaps flattered us and we were firmly put to the sword. Evesham are a decent footballing side, but they were hungrier than us and both mentally and physically stronger than us on the day. The injured Gabe Billington was the only notable absentee from the matchday squad and as Asa Hall said in his after match interview, this was an embarrassing performance. 

Collectively we have struggled and have had a poor set of results in the last 3 or 4 weeks. That naturally will take it’s toll and adds pressure to each game. The only way is up from here and Asa Hall and Steve Orchard won’t just be looking for a response against Berkhamsted at The Slee Blackwell Stadium, they will be expecting one. 

Tiverton: George Burton, Brooklyn Wilkins, Toby Down, Dean Moxey (37), Tor Swann, Toby Stephens, Asa Hall, Zack Williams (72), Jacob Wellington (45), Finley Rooke (45), Louis Jagger Cane. 

Substitutes: John Ross, Matt Wood (37), Dan Koita (45), Corey Koerner (45), Aiden Horne (72).