Under 16s Boys - More News & Reports

Tiverton Town 1 – 0 Heathfield

Sunday 8th January 2012

The Christmas break saw no let off in the passion this game always arouses on both sides and after 80 minutes of play it was Tiverton who came out on top again denting Heathfields lead in the league inflicting their 2nd defeat of the season.

On a very sticky and heavy pitch both teams played some good football at times which at times was perhaps a little over physical, but the referee deemed it fit to let the game flow as much as possible keeping the card count at 0.
It was Tivvy who started the brighter creating some penetrative chances, a raking ball from  middle of the pitch from Jack Hayman landed in the path of Liam Gregory just wide of the Heathfield penalty box, his run in on goal and resulting shot forced a great save from the Heathfield keeper.  There was little threat on Tivvy’s goal in the first half although Heathfield, although they managed on occasion to dispossess the mid-field the Tivvy back 4 held strong and repelled everything to end the first half 0 - 0
The second half was much the same as the first, the only difference being Heathfield appeared to revert to playing longer balls to try and miss out the midfield, with 15 minutes of the 2nd half played the tactic almost paid off except for the fact that Jack McGovern made two fantastic saves from a point blank shot, which was followed up from the ricochet and the third strike sailed past him as he could not get out the mud quick enough, but the quick thinking Callum Burgin was there to send the ball back up the pitch off the goal line.   That was clearly the wakeup call the Yellows needed to motivate them. With 15 minutes of the game remaining Heathfield attacked the Tivvy end but the ball was snatched by Jordan Ford in the box, who passed it out to Max Bristow, has pass to the feet of Lewis White was then knocked on to Liam Gregory, who played the back to White before darting down the wing to receive the ball back launching in toward the goal for a shot/come cross which beat the keeper going into the top nearside of the goal making it 1 -0 to the hosts.
With time running out Heathfield threw everything at Tivvy trying to get the equaliser and came close on one occasion, but the shot was wide of the upright.  Tiverton kept their lead and ran out deserved 1 – 0 winners.

Tiverton Town U16s 5 - 6 (AET) Heathfield

League Cup

30th October 2011

This game must have been every manager's nightmare game to watch but a delight for any neutral with both sides showing passion, skill, commitment and mistakes on and of the ball.

It was a nervous looking start for both sides, as is usually the case when these two teams meet, and it was Tivvy that forced an early mistake when Alan Woodcock was brought down just outside the corner of the Heathfield penalty box. Max Bristow stepped up to take the free-kick, which the defence were expecting to be floated in over the wall, but a well struck free-kick that was bent around the wall and hit the back of the net off the upright, making it 1-0. Tivvy continued to apply pressure using the flanks well, crossing the ball into the danger areas well, but the Heathfield back line proved to be an equal match to many of the penetrative moves that Tivvy made. With around 15 minutes played Heathfield got an equaliser when lack of communication between the back line and the Tivvy goalkeeper gave the Heathfield striker an easy tap in.

From the re-start Tivvy continued to press forward and with a little over 20 minutes played Liam Gregory put Tivvy back in front with a great strike when Alan Woodcock made sure the offside trap Heathfield tried to set did not work, ensuring the referee was aware that he was not interfering with play. A cross from Bristow was met by Gregory whose finish made it 2-1.

On the 30 minute mark Bristow made it 3-1 after another good build up saw him finish well. Heathfield started to press to get themselves back into the game with a little less than 5 minutes remaining of the half Heathfield were gifted their second goal when Tivvy just seemed to go to sleep at the back. Going into the break 3-2 up Tivvy looked like they needed to re-group and regain their composure, but once the second half started, with less than 4 minutes played, the scores were level as once again Heathfield cut through the defence.

At this point the game really was anybody's and it was Tivvy who took the lead again after 50 minutes played after an energetic and strong run by Lewis Moore saw him lay the ball off from 25-30 yards out, for Bristow to get his 3rd of the game with a long range lob that left the goalkeeper mesmerized.

Tivvy were starting to look leggy coming up to the end of normal time and Heathfield again managed to pull themselves back into the game after a good bit of build-up play from them allowed them once again to walk the ball in to make it 4-4, which was how normal time ended.

It was Heathfield who started the first period of extra time in the ascendency, and for the first time in the game, after 11 minutes of added time, the took the lead with what could arguably be described as the first real goal they deserved. With time running out into the second phase of added time, it was Bristow who got his 4th of the game to make it 5 apiece and everybody watching must have assumed it was heading towards penalties. With a little under 2 minutes left on the clock Heathfield strung together a set of 7 passes in the Tivvy half that were unchallenged, before slotting the ball home to make iot 6-5 to the visitors, who now progress to the next round of the League Cup.

Goalscorer: Max Bristow (4), Liam Gregory

Tiverton Town U16s 2 -2 Tamerton Foliot (4-1 pens AET)

16th Octoberr 2011

The Yellows always knew this would be a tough game, and a well drilled Tamerton side proved difficult to break down for some time.

The game started at a frenetic pace which suited the home team as it was forcing Tamerton into mistakes and they gave away several cheap free kicks, the first of which Alan Woodcock delivered, but slightly too close to the keeper who managed to keep a hold of the ball. After the opening 15 minutes or so, Tamerton got a hold of the game and forced Tivvy onto the back foot for a period of time but the dogged determination of the back four prevented any openings and Tivvy seemed happy to counter attack. Nathan Broome went on a great run taking on all comers before releasing the ball for Woodcock who's shot was just wide, hitting the side netting. The game got a little scrappy with neither side being able to take total control, but it was Tivvy who got the break through when they were awarded a penalty for a late challenge in the box. Max Bristow stepped up to take the pen, hitting the back of the net, but an infringement meant he had to re-take the spot kick, making no mistake with the second take to put Tivvy 1 - 0 up.

Liam Gregory was like a terrier down the left flank causing all sorts of problems for the Tamerton defence with his accurate crossing and with only minutes before the half time break he sent a great delivery into the box, just in front of the keeper which Woodcock couldn't quite direct goalward.

The 2nd half started with Tivvy looking like they were still sat on the bench when everybody got caught out thinking the Tamerton playing running through was offside, but no flag came and he had an easy finish to make it 1 - 1. Tivvy seemed a little shell shocked for a few minutes as Tamerton tried to capitalise on their good fortune, but it was not too long before the yellows were back in their stride with Jack Hayman heading just wide from a well flighted ball sent in from Bristow, it was the latter who put Tivvy back in front with a thunderous strike from some 30 yards out that the keeper could not stop from hitting the back of the net - 2 - 1. Moment later the scores were level when good fortune again smiled on Tamerton as the Tivvy defender slipped on his way to the ball, allowing the striker to run by for another easy tap in.

The game was now extremely tense but it was Tivvy who weathered the storm better with Dan Nation, Ollie Seymour , Gregory and Woodcock working as a unit to try and force the winner, Tamerton came back at Tivvy and a long range speculative shot saw Jack McGovern make the a superb finger save to keep the scores level. With 10 minutes of normal time remaining Tivvy found themselves down to 10 men after a technicality saw Jack Hayman receive a second yellow card.

2- 2 at the end of normal time and extra time ensued, Tivvy continued to look the stronger side but they could not make the breakthrough, so the dreaded penalty kicks were on the horizon and sure enough they came.

Tivvy dominated the penalty kicks not missing one and the hero of the day was Jack McGovern who was simply outstanding with his shot stopping from the penalty spot.

Goalscorer: Max Bristow (2)

Heathfield 0 - 1 Tiverton Town U16s

25th September 2011

Whenever these two teams meet it’s always a tense and well contested game.  Today was no exception and from start to finish both sides gave 100%in their efforts to win the ball. 

The first opportunity of the game fell to Heathfield who, with less than a minute on the clock, were awarded a free-kick just outside the box for a clumsy challenge.  It looked like they had spent a great deal of time in training working on free-kicks and set pieces, but this shot was well wide of the goal.  With the ball going from end to end it was Tivvy who next came close when Liam Gregory chased the ball down before passing it forward to Ollie Seymour who, with his first touch, slid the ball across the face of the keeper and on this occasion Alan Woodcock was unfortunate not to hit the back of the net as he couldn’t make contact before the ball went out of play. 

In the 9th minute of the game Tiverton took the lead when the Heathfield defender was adjudged to have been too physical in his challenge just outside the box.  Woodcock stepped up to take the direct free-kick, hitting it sweetly over the wall and into the Heathfield goal where the fingertips of the keeper only pushed it further back into the net.

Tiverton continued to control the game in large parts and the frustration of the Heathfield players was evident.  With around 35 minutes played Ryan Hancock made his customary attempt for save of the season when a well whipped in ball looked to be goal-bound.  The Heathfield players were already cheering but somehow Hancock got his fingertips to the ball to push it on to the upright before Nathan Broome cleared the ball from the danger area to end the first half 0 – 1.

The second half saw Tivvy playing down the slope and they managed to keep their momentum with Ollie Seymour and Woodcock unlucky not to extend the lead early on before Heathfield had a 10 minute purple patch where they had Tivvy penned back in their own half, but the back line for Tivvy held strong. 

Tivvy’s reactions to free-kick’s and following the ball in were exceptional today and with opportunities to put the ball into the box from dangerous areas.  Jordan Ford and Dan Nation gave Liam Gregory and Max Bristow opportunities to follow-up, but their shots were not on target.  Tivvy looked certain to extend their lead with 10 minutes remaining when the ball was pumped into the area again, only for it to rebound off the goalkeeper before being smashed in to rebound off the upright, followed by a scuffed clearance from the keeper and a second ricochet off the upright before Heathfield somehow cleared their lines. 

Heathfield changed their formation to three up front in an attempt to get something from the game but they were unable to penetrate Tiverton’s defences and were fortunate that they never got caught on the break by some tireless running down the line by Lewis Moore and Seymour. 

Today’s game was won by a dedicated team effort and although not mentioned above, Callum Burgin, George Gardiner and especially Jack Cottrell, all put in great shifts for the team.

Well done lads.

Goalscorer: Alan Woodcock

Taunton North Youth 0 – 1 Tiverton Town U16s

18th September 2011

With less than half an hour to prepare and warm up for the game due to the M5 junction being closed, it may well have been expected that the Yellow’s would start slowly.  Not so, as they began the game at an impressive pace playing some great one touch football that, from the outset, was causing TNY all sorts of problems down both flanks, and it seemed as if it was lady luck that was stopping them from going behind. 

Jimmy Hinds was linking up extremely well from midfield with Liam Gregory who started the game on the left flank and his darting runs saw him almost opening the scoring on several occasions before a well worked move by Alan Woodcock saw the back of the net bulge (4 minutes) but he was adjudged to have been offside.  Further intelligent play between Nathan Broome, Gregory, Lewis Moore and Hinds saw the latter narrowly miss when his 30 yard shot skimmed over the bar.  With a little over 12 minutes played and TNY penned into their own half, Tivvy were unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty when Gregory was tripped in the area on the blind side of the ref. 

On the occasion that TNY managed to break into the Tivvy half, all attacks on goal were snuffed out by a very strong back line lead by today’s captain Callum Burgin.  A wind assisted ball fired in from wide out on the right by Max Bristow almost forced an own goal as the defender was left no choice but to head the ball away with it just going over the crossbar.  It was Bristow again who came close after more strong play in midfield afforded him a striking opportunity from some 25 yards out that forced a great save by the TNY keeper.  The resulting corner came back out for Bristow who fired in a carbon copy shot, which the keeper managed to fingertip behind the goal. 

Sadly with around 30 minutes on the clock Jimmy Hinds was carried off the pitch after an innocuous challenge saw him land awkwardly on his ankle (get well soon Jim). 

With the first half coming to an end, Tivvy continued to pile on the pressure and another great cross in from Moore was met by Woodcock who fired just over the bar and the half ended 0-0.

The second half saw TNY have an early doors purple patch, catching the backline sleeping, which resulted in a one on one between the TNY striker and Ryan Hancock in goal, and the save Hancock made will probably qualify for save of the season.  TNY had their moments in the second half but all the attacking play was really done by Tiverton, who continued to make clear-cut chances but found it very difficult to beat the offside trap that TNY appeared to be using. 

Gregory, Woodcock, Moore and Bristow were unlucky not to break the deadlock with some great moves and strikes on goal and it took until the 80th minute before Nation sent the ball into the penalty area from the right hand flank where Bristow’s header never had enough purchase to trouble the keeper, but the ball came back to the feet of Jack Hayman, whose initial shot on goal was blocked but he was the quickest to react and in the scramble that ensued he managed to put the ball into the back of the net to give Tiverton Town a well-deserved victory and 3 points.

All the best to the TNY players for the rest of the season, although outplayed today the spirit in which they played the game was commendable.

Goalscorer:         Jack Hayman