SOUTHERN PREMIER SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2007

We are having a bit of luck with the weather this year – another home match and no gale wind to spoil it. But there was no question of luck about this win. Tivvy set out to batter their way through and our lads stood up to it, moved quicker and got hold of the ball and played good solid football over the whole stretch.

Cirencester Town 3 Tiverton Town 2

Mr Viveash played FGR loan signing Chris Davis from the off, in the full knowledge that the Loughborough University youngster had to get an hour under his belt. And, knowing that Tiv would want to force the match up front, put WSM loan player Mike Taylor in beside Moley at the back with Lex Stanley taking the left side of the back four.

Mr Rogers has had a lot of difficulty getting a squad this year, with Jamie Mudge still not confirmed up front, and had recently been playing a lot of his youngsters. But, traditionally, Tiv field a massive back line and there was no surprise there today.

It works if you can overpower the opposition. It works less well if the opposition out-pass and out-run you. And if the ref won't let the midfield get away with the late stuff in the tackle. Tiv tried rather too much of that today and let themselves be distracted when it did not work.

Within 2 minutes, Ciren had Bully to thank. An unnecessary free kick had Vinnicombe lining up a curler from 35 yards out on the left. In it came, aimed for the penalty spot. And the lively Tom Knighton had checked out and left Alex Stanley behind him as he then swooped back in to connect in the clear and send the ball for the foot of the far post. Bully was across, down and made a great reaction tip around the post.

It could have been curtains. Maybe Mike Taylor and Moley had not yet established their defensive wavelength but Lex had been left with two to watch and had been done. Encouraged, Tiv battered away and it was soon very clear that Taylor has no problem in coming to meet the ball and make himself first.

It needed the Ciren midfield to make sure they were also first to the balls coming out. Nathan was having one of those days, reading the play and already moving, and won a series of crunchers to make sure Ciren kept the ball. With Chappy and Shax open for the out ball, the penetration was out wide and when it was on the deck was also dangerous.

On 10 minutes, Mike Taylor did exactly the right thing, brought a long clearance down and drilled a careful pass on the deck up to Chris Davis. His movement to meet it was far too quick for the defender, who had no chance of getting it. The first touch was clean, the lay off to Jacko was clean, and the pass wide to Chappy, making himself space on the left, was accurate.

Jak Martin lumbered across to close down but Chappy had spotted what was happening inside. Careful concentration, his early pass was aimed for the far side of the goal area. The first five pictures in the sidebar shows what happened. Apologies that the first one is blurred but you can see that both Robbo and Davis are facing the goal and going for the space, with Jacko already backing up at the edge of the box.

Just the movement, accuracy and pace has opened up the defence, all turned and going towards their own goal. See where Davis started and see where he finished in the final picture. You have to be an outstandingly quick defender to cope with that kind of thing. Davis was an inch off it, with the clue being Dan Wallington on the far side touchline – he is seeing it happen and is reacting. That close.

Ten minutes later, with Tivvy looking a bit better than us in setting up play with both Szabo and Knighton neat and tidy in collecting the passes up to them on the deck but Moley and Alex Stanley refusing to let the attacker get past them, Ciren won a ball in midfield with Jacko quicker to react and quicker to control. He slipped Nathan clear and he slid Shax up the right side.

Maybe he could have run Vinnicombe wide. Instead, checked back, put on the afterburners and went for the edge of the box before sliding a low pass into the mix. Tivvy defence twisting and turning, lots of shouting, Davis gets himself strong and moves to meet it. And Robbo has taken Tom Gardner out toward the far side of the box then spurted back inside to collect the pass into the space.

It is good stuff. In the clear 16 yards out, ball in front of him and Johnson desperately advancing to close him down, the shot by Steve Robertson is clean and full blooded and aimed for the inside of the post. Hits the boot of Matt Villis but loops up then down and into the net.

Our Man on the Microphone has no trouble announcing that one ...

He should have announced the equaliser in the next minute. If the lad (Szabo?) who got the ball in the clear down the left side after it had broken into the gap between Chris Collins and Mike Taylor had got a left foot shot, Bully could have been picking it out of the net. He didn't.

Within three more minutes, Chappy had been served a horrible backspun pass up in the air off Alex when putting your foot on the ball then drilling it on the deck would have given him chance to collect and turn. Wry smile from Chappy at that one.

Big smile from him on 24 minutes. 'Lex more than made up for that horrible one with a perfect set-up, on the deck, paced just right. Chappy collects, looks up and this time sends the ball for the far post just a foot or so further out. No chance of defending that one and on the run Steve Robertson connects and his volley rockets past the stranded Ray Johnson.

The Shed End respond with the first proper roar we've had in more than a few weeks.

Cracking goal. And Andy Chapman gets the huge hug from Alex Stanley, because the pair of them had set that one up.

Tivvy are getting agitated. Conceding free kicks, getting niggly, trying to batter Ciren all that they are achieving is a 'they shall not pass' attitude in the Ciren backline. It goes end to end but no danger for Bully with Mike Taylor now comfortably meshing with Moley. But, no more chances for Ciren.

It had been obvious that the coaching this week has been on making sure in attacks. Early second half Chris Davis is nearly on the end of a lovely corner routine – Johnson fumbles at the end of it and Chris is just the wrong side.

But, have a look at where that next series of sidebar pictures starts, with a set-up for a corner. Robbo is just starting his run, with Davis in front of the keeper on the near post ....

Chappy has hit it for the space and that is where Robbo was making his run. The header back to the far post is perfect, with the whole Tivvy defence dragged to the near post. And see how quick Davis moves his feet to get the chance. It's like watching a younger, better looking Oggy.

And don't forget, Andy Chapman put that corner into exactly the right spot. Mr Viveash would have been pleased that his team were doing what was wanted. He gave Chris Davis a couple more minutes with a turn, sprint and very nearly a chance of a clear shot before he had to check and feed back to Alex Stanley. On came Nick Stanley to replace him with the obvious brief to give a by now furious Tivvy defence the run around.

Twice he timed his run spot on and twice was flagged off, which must be incredibly frustrating when the move has come off to perfection only for the speed of it not only to fool the defence but also to misinform the arbitro on the line.

Mr Rogers very wisely took Gould off, before he was sent off, and pushed both Veale and Will Gardner into Andy Chapman control duties. It had some effect, though it did leave Matt Shaxton with more options and he was getting some service with Vinnicombe now patrolling in front of his defence in an attempt to close down the passes from Jackson.

It left the defence light and when Snaky got away down the right, Jak Martin opted to bundle him over rather than let him turn and go at the penalty area. Over trots Chappy, up comes Moley and Taylor, and Shax and Snaky both circle innocently away to the edge of the box ready for the run in to the free kick.

It is deadly. Dipping over the startled pair in the middle of the defence, Moley connects in front of Martin who sprawls back off Moley's physical determination to make himself first and the ball bounces down to an unmarked Nick Stanley.

Right place, right time, no messing about, 3 – 0 on 69 minutes.

In the background, Mr Viveash sticks his arms in the air. That was the kind of movement he wants to see on a free kick. Taylor and Haisley have made the middle defenders stay where they are, Shax has taken Vinnicombe very nearly out of the area, and Snaky has snuck in on the blindside.

Next minute, another corner again shreds the Tiv defence, again Moley makes himself first to nod down and this time it is Alex Stanley having a dig. With Vinnicombe desperately diving in to block, the shot from 16 yards rockets an inch past the top corner to bring more noise out of the folk with the plastic beer mugs ranged down the stand side.

Twenty minutes to go, Tivvy are rocking. Jacko, with very nearly his last pass before being replaced by Big H, sends Shax storming onto an inside pass. He is into the gap between the defenders, on the edge of the box, with a second of time and space. Hit the spot inside either post with Johnson 6 yards out and helpless and it is a goal. Shax sends the shot at Johnson.

Ten minutes to go, Big H dives in to try and cut out Paul Wyatt, coming inside, when on reflection he'll know he was on the wrong foot and too far away. Stay on your feet, stay goal side. Wyatt is away, looks up. The defence step up. The ball is slotted through, Chris Young collects. Offside ref? By two yards? No. Easy for Chris Young and he nets calmly.

Next minute Robbo has a chance – lovely interpassing gets him in the box. Hit the button, kid. Keeper is on his heels. Nope, he tries to pass Snaky in and he is crowded out. And Rhys Carpenter comes on and gives the Tivvy defence another roasting with quick turns, collects and runs that make them wonder if Chris Davis has got a twin brother. But, no goal chances and the match looks to be fading away.

Except, Tivvy are nothing if not proud and keep going for another goal. They very nearly get it. The defence is suddenly not playing it out as well as they had been doing and the ball keeps coming back. A cross from Radley Veale on 88 minutes is knocked out for a corner and when that comes in is only half cleared and gets nodded back inside.

There is Knighton, 6 yards out and the ball dropping onto his nut. Deliberate aim to nod it over the keeper and under the bar but somehow Bully gets his feet right, makes the leap, arches back and tips it over. Great header (how cool is that kid Knighton?) and an even better save.

With 2 added minutes gone, a Tiv free from deep is not dealt with, the ball drops to Paul Wyatt and he calmly collects, dribbles through and sweet as a nut slots across the exposed Bully to score inside the far post from 12 yards out.

Suddenly, Tiv are all action and another free foolishly conceded 35 yards out looks ominous. I've no idea why Chappy decides to have a go at Luke Clarke, who is giving him a bit of a push and a shove on the end of the line-up.. But the reaction from the big lad is a bit too obvious and the lino wags his flag, over comes the ref and off goes Clarke with a red card to his name.

Mr Rogers maybe has a point, furiously pointing out to the ref that there are two people involved, but he might want to think about talking to his lads about the wisdom, or otherwise, of dishing it out. It did not work for them today.

Centurions: Matt Bulman, Chris Collins (c), Alex Stanley Y29, Nathan Haisley, Lee Molyneux, Mike Taylor, Matt Shaxton, Michael Jackson [Harry Etheridge 72], Steve Robertson [Rhys Carpenter 83], Chris Davis [Nick Stanley 58], Andrew Chapman
other subs: Dan Wallington, Alex Frost

Tivvy: Ray Johnson, Jak Martin, Chris Vinnicombe (c) Y23, Matt Villis [Luke Clarke 79 R90], Will Gardner Y30, Tom Gardner, Radley Veale, Sean Szabo [Chris Young 72], Tom Knighton, Glenn Gould [Lee Grove 64], Paul Wyatt

Ref: Mr J Comerly (Windsor) Irritated the Tiv players and fans by applying the Laws regarding foul play but he was remarkably tolerant. Especially, with Gould, who was spoken to 4 times in the first half before eventually being withdrawn when it was becoming obvious he had lost it in his battle with Nathan.

The lino with the hair spotted the elbow that drew the red card but, in my humble opinion, Chappy was very fortunate because he did have a good old fashioned niggle at the lad. Provocation is not necessary – just stand your ground, no more.

Att: 163 – 160 through the gate and 3 of their committee who came in through the side door. Not at all bad, given our not so enchanting recent form, with a fair couple of dozen Yellows arranged along the sidelines. Amused (alarmed?) at the comment by one of them at the end “Next time we'll sort 'em out, Rudgey will be back to batter them”. Not sure that will work, since the lads stood up to a fair old battering this time and refused to cave in.

MoM: Lots of votes for Robbo and Bully. Mentions for Chris Davis and the other debutant, Mike Taylor.

Clubhouse vote gave it to Nathan Haisley.

My vote went to Andrew Chapman who worked well all match, if maybe getting himself in a couple of blind alleys in the second half when he could have dominated his flank, if only because he really made sure his passes counted. He had players today who worked their socks off to get on the end of them.