SOUTHERN PREMIER SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER 2007 3PM KO

Not possible to get to this match myself. Very grateful that Jenni Silver went down there and took the time to get out her notebook and send me her report. I've added just a few words, based on what other folks have also provided.

TIVERTON TOWN – 2 (Knighton 3, Hinshelwood 57)
CIRENCESTER TOWN – 1 (N Stanley 48)

MISSED goals and wasted opportunities made for one of Cirencester’s most frustrating defeats so far this season. The scoreline failed to reflect the visitors’ dominance. The Centurions still can’t score when they have worked so hard to put pressure on their opponents.

With Lee Molyneaux and Alex Stanley both suspended, and Mike Taylor recalled by W-S-M for their FA Trophy match, manager Adi Viveash put himself in the Ciren back line for his first start of the season.

But even his presence couldn’t stop an early goal – this time within three minutes. Tiverton’s swift Tom Knighton was given too much space up the right. Even though Alex Frost closed him down he allowed the powerful shot which then deflected off his boot and just past Matt Bulman’s finger tips.

From then on Ciren appeared to take control, dominating the possession but still not putting away the goal scoring chances. Andrew Chapman slotted free kick after free kick towards the box only to reach the gloves of ex-Gloucester keeper Ray Johnston or to see them be kicked away.

Nathan Haisley, Nick Stanley and even the manager all missed early chances to level a game they were dominating, playing quick accurate football in the Tivvy half. Viveash’s first chance came on 18 minutes when he stepped up as a free kick beat the defence and booted the ball over the bar.

Five minutes later, he did net with the Tivvy defence caught out by a well worked move on yet another free kick. Only for the linesman to make a bad mistake and flag offside when it had been the attacking movement that had put Viveash in the clear behind a disorganised defence.

Even Matt Shaxton, who had stunned Cinderford with two last minute goals earlier in the week was struggling, his best chance only finding the Tiverton keeper when he had time to steady and find the corner of the net. On the mark of half time another good move saw Michael Jackson free but he delayed and was smothered.

After the break there was another early scare when Tiverton caught the Ciren defence napping. This escape gave the Centurions the confidence boost they needed but yet another chance to draw equal was squandered by Michael Jackson’s moment of hesitation.

The equaliser eventually came when Nick Stanley headed home a pinpoint Chapman near post corner on 49 minutes. From then on Ciren seemed to have the measure of Tiverton.

Chris Davis, on for Robertson who picked up a dead leg, brought some much needed pace to the attacking moves. But by then, with half an hour to go, Ciren were again behind and having to chase the game. His link-up play with Stanley and Shaxton showed flashes of brilliance which gives some glimmer of hope for games to come.

Just over ten minutes into the half Tiverton’s captain Rudge appeared to hold the ball after falling as he made yet another desperate, clumsy tackle. But when a goal kick was awarded to Tiverton as a result Ciren seemed to suffer a mini collapse of confidence in overcoming what they were starting to see as a homer tinge to the officiating.

Cue too much space for Matt Villis coming out of defence up the left when possession was lost in midfield. Chris Young was able to bundle Knighton's cross back across goal where Torquay loan player Paul Hinshelwood was in position on the edge of the penalty area to strike cleanly for another conceded goal on 57 minutes.

The loss of Chapman on the hour, also out with a dead leg, saw Dan Wallington switch flanks at the back and allowed an impressive stint from John Else up the right flank. At the back Viveash was increasingly vocal but his height and presence gave Ciren some much needed security.

But the goals still weren’t coming. Haisley missed an open goal on 64 minutes, inexplicably hitting the bar when the Tivvy offside trap failed yet again and left him clear 15 yards out. It needed just a placement but he blazed at it and a golden chance had gone, with Tivvy again on the ropes.

For all of Nick Stanley’s effort he couldn’t get the opening his running and spinning on to passes deserved, with Tiverton defending stoutly and making sure he was closed down every time the ball came into the danger areas .

A scuffle between the normally mild mannered Jackson and Tiverton’s Darren Mullings, another Torquay loan signing, provided slight excitement with the referee giving each a yellow card to put in their handbags.

But the game ended in the usual Ciren disappointment, this time all the worse for the opportunities wasted. Meanwhile with Alex Stanley and Lee Molyneux both eligible for Thursday’s meeting with Gloucester City the pair could find themselves challenging Adi Viveash for a place in the team after the manager put in one of the strongest shows on the pitch.


The Exeter Express and Echo sent their usual reporter to the game so, with acknowledgments to them, here is his take on the match:

Tiverton Town bagged three points they desperately needed with a narrow 2-1 win over Cirencester Town in the Southern League Premier. New signing Paul Hinshelwood's sweetly-struck shot from 20 yards settled the game 12 minutes after half-time.

The goal capped an excellent debut for the loan player from Torquay United, who was one of several outstanding performers in yellow. Fellow 'Gulls loanee Darren Mullings bossed the midfield alongside the superb Radley Veale.

Paul Wyatt was a constant threat on the left wing and Tom Gardner and Matt Villis were awesome in defence. But as well as several good performers Tivvy needed more than their fair share of good fortune to record their first win in five outings.

(Tiverton) Manager Martyn Rogers said: "After three losses we desperately needed that result and there was a lot of relief in the dressing room.”

"You always need a little bit of luck to win games and fortunately for us we got that."

Lady luck was on Tivvy's side as early as the third minute when Tom Knighton gave the hosts the lead in front of 251 people - the Yellows' lowest league home attendance on a Saturday for more than 10 years.

Chris Young won a 50/50 tackle in midfield and unleashed Knighton's pace on the snail-like Centurions back-line of player-manager Adi Viveash and Alex Frost.

Knighton twisted and turned past Frost, but allowed the defender to get in front of him as he switched the ball on to his favoured left foot.

When the shot eventually came in Frost managed to get a decent block on it, but only succeeded in sending it dribbling past his own goalkeeper Matt Bulman and into the net.

A goal to the good, Tivvy looked the better side but only briefly as they did not build on their possession. In fact the Yellows were fortunate to reach half-time with their lead still intact.

The set-piece combination of Andrew Chapman whipping in crosses aimed at Viveash's head was causing lots of problems.

The visitor's boss headed wide on 14 minutes, then flicked on another Chapman delivery which Nick Stanley should have converted three minutes later. He had the ball in the net on 23 minutes with a diving header, only to see it ruled out for offside.

Knighton had a goal disallowed for offside at the other end but there was no doubting which team had taken the upper hand. Michael Jackson should have equalised for Ciren on half-time when Tivvy's defence parted like the Red Sea, only for Ray Johnston to come to the rescue.

The visitors finally conjured a legitimate equaliser four minutes after the break, when Chapman's corner to the near post allowed Stanley to nod past Johnston.

In response, Rogers reverted to his favoured 3-5-2 formation and pushed Hinshelwood forward to mark Matt Shaxton.

And the move paid off on 57 minutes when the Torquay man scored the winner. Young controlled Knighton's cross and managed to force the ball back to Hinshelwood who hit his shot past Bulman.

It was just desserts for Rogers, whose tactical tinkering undoubtedly gave the Yellows the upper hand. Mullings and Veale came to the fore, with the former unlucky not to find the net himself when his dink into the box bounced off the post to safety.

Wyatt also could have got on the scoresheet, but the wideman's shot was saved following good work from Villis and Veale.

Rogers said: "We have probably played better and lost but I'm pleased because once we got the goal in the second half we got better as a team."

Lady luck again smiled on the Yellows on 64 minutes when an ill-advised offside trap failed and Nathan Haisley was left unmarked 15 yards from goal with the ball at his feet. His shot hit the crossbar and bounced back into the hands of a much relieved Ray Johnston.

That incident should have been the start of an onslaught from the visitors, but the Yellows comfortably held out to secure the three points and a welcome morale boost.

Tiverton Town: Ray Johnston, Paul Hinshelwood, Paul Wyatt, Matt Villis, Nathan Rudge, Tom Gardner, Danny O'Brien, Radley Veale, Chris Young (Lee Groves, 77), Darren Mullings, Tom Knighton. Subs not used: Sean Szabo, Glen Gould. Booked: Mullings (ungentlemanly conduct, 81).

Cirencester Town: Matt Bulman, Dan Wallington, Andrew Chapman (John Else 60), Nathan Haisley, Adi Viveash, Alex Frost, Chris Collins, Michael Jackson, Steve Robinson (Chris Davis 55), Nick Stanley, Matt Shaxton. Subs not used: Paul Hunt, Harry Etheridge. Booked: Jackson (ungentlemanly conduct, 81).

Referee: P Brown, Taunton reports are that he did OK, maybe not taking sufficiently early action to calm Tivvy down as they conceded free kick after free kick in the opening half hour

Attendance: 251

Match stats: (Tiverton first): shots on target 4 - 4, shots off target 5 - 9, free-kicks conceded 15 - 15, corners 4 - 6, offsides 2 - 2.

Ciren MoM: Nick Stanley