Tivvy leave it late to deny Reds

A dramatic late equaliser from Tiverton Town saw them rescue a point against Uxbridge at the picturesque Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium in Devon on Saturday. The hosts looked to be heading for defeat after falling behind early on to a Harry Rush goal, but their persistence paid off with a last-gasp goal to salvage a point.

The match began with a lively tempo, and it was Uxbridge who struck first. In the 7th minute, a well-worked move down the right saw Rio Connell out-muscle his defender before sending in a low cross, which saw an unmarked Harry Rush on hand to fire home from 6 yards out. He nearly repeated the trick 2 minutes later, as a mix up in the Tiverton defence, saw the ball fall to Rush, but his lob over Ross in the home goal was just off target. Tiverton struggled to create chances, and The Reds looked in control. Nams Nwachuku chipped in a dangerous cross in the 17th minute that saw Connell head just wide. Tiverton sprang into life on 20 minutes when a looping cross seemed destined to drop under the bar, only for captain C.J Fearn to intervene and head the ball clear. The visitors continued to press, with Casey Bocarro firing just wide when well placed just after the half hour. Tiverton had two good chances to level before the break, as firstly Cole Brown did well to deflect a goal bound shot over the bar and then two minutes later Laurie Shala got down superbly to keep Tiverton out and keep The Reds lead intact.

HT 0-1

The second half started in a low key fashion, with neither side able to impose themselves on the match. It would not be until just past the hour mark until the first action of any real note as Jo Lawals shot was deflected just wide with the keeper beaten, within a minute Uxbridge did have the ball in the net but via a hand, before Nams forced a save from Ross in the home goal. However, the best chance came in the 77th minute when substitute Masimo Giamattei was played in, but the Tiverton defence scrambled the ball away. With time ticking away, it looked as though Uxbridge would hold on for the win. However, in the 89th minute, the home side earned a free kick on the left hand side of the box. The ball was sent to the back post, where Asa Hall rose highest to nod the ball home, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and snatching a point for the Yellows right at the death.

Ultimately this was probably a fair result, but The Reds will be disappointed after leading for so long. However they remain unbeaten after eight games and have proved they don’t look out of place at this level. Next up will be a real test at high flying Sholing on Tuesday evening

FT 1-1

Att 289

Uxbridge: Shala, Brown, Bocarro, Fearn, Tanner, Nnadozie, Lawal (Osu), Rush, Nwachuku (Bailey), Connell (Thorpe), Prior Tack (Keita)