TIVERTON TOWN 3 PAULTON ROVERS 4

Tiverton parted company with the management team of Mark Saunders and his assistant Hedley Steele after last Saturday’s home defeat to North Leigh, which was their 18th game without a win in all competitions. This meant experienced central defender, Kevin Hill, was in temporary charge for this game and he must have been delighted with the response from the players as they gave Rovers a real scare with a determined fight back from two goals behind.

“Tivvy” showed their intentions from the start and should have been ahead in the 2nd minute with a sweeping move down the left which saw Lewis Tasker send a ball down the flank to Russell Jee, who crossed to the near post where Alex Faux blazed over the bar. It was 7 minutes before Rovers threatened as Stuart Pearson picked out Nick McCootie who crossed from the right and the ball looped up for skipper, Dan Cleverley, to get in a header at full stretch, which was easily saved by home keeper, Chris Wright.

The reason for Town’s poor form became apparent in the 16th minute when a Cleverley ball forward through the middle saw James Billing race through and just win the race to the ball under a challenge from the onrushing Wright and the ball sat up nicely for McCootie to send a right footed volley into the unguarded net.

Ben Osman went close to doubling the lead 3 minutes later with a well struck shot that Wright did well to save low to his left while at the other end Pearson had to head a Michael Nardiello shot off the line.

On 28 minutes the Town defence were once again caught flat footed as they appealed in vain for offside as Billing raced through, this time latching onto a Scott Brice clearance, before rounding Wright and slotting the ball home.

Any thoughts that the visitors were in for an easy victory were dismissed in the 36th minute when the officials allowed an apparent foul on Osman on the half way line to go unpunished and although the whipped in cross from the left was partially cleared Jules Emati-Emati was on hand to force the ball home.

The home side drew level in the final minute of the half when Ben Lacey was penalised for a foul on Emati-Emati 20 yards out and Andy Taylor’s well struck free kick went through the wall and despite a fine save from Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, low to his right, Hill was on hand to tap in the parry.

By now Rovers were longing for half time and a chance to regroup but in the final minute ”Tivvy” completed a remarkable come back as another cross from the left, this time from Tasker, was headed down to skipper, Nardiello, who had an easy tap in.

After the frantic finish to the first half the start of the second was positively pedestrian but Rovers got back on level terms 7 minutes after the restart. Cleverley’s free kick into the box dropped to Billing, whose shot deflected for a corner. Brandon Barnes left footed inswinger from the right eventually dropped to McCootie, who lashed the ball home, right footed, from 10 yards out.

The game was settled just after the hour mark with a slick Rovers’ move down the left as Lacey picked out Mike Reaney on the overlap and his cross found Billing, who controlled it well before slotting home what proved to be the winner.

Tiverton again showed great spirit to press for an equaliser but were not helped by firstly, the strange decision to substitute, Emati-Emati, whose strength and pace caused the Rovers’ defence problems all evening and then the dismissal of Alex Faux for a second yellow card for a needless challenge on Cleverley.

In the end it was a hard fought victory that keeps Rovers very much in the hunt for the final play off place and although the poor “Tivvy” run continues on the evidence of this performance they just need to tighten up in central defence and a return to winning ways will not be far away.

Rovers: Kyle Phillips, Stuart Pearson, Mike Reaney, Marcus Mapstone, Scott Brice, Ben Osman (Craig Loxton 62 mins), Brandon Barnes (Josh Jeffries 90 mins), Ben Lacey, James billing (Tyler Sibbick 70 mins), Dan Cleverley (C), Nick McCootie.
Subs not used: Stuart Tovey, Charlie Rich.

Referee: Andrew Bennett

Assts: Jamie MacCleod / Lee Roberts

Attendance: 153