F.A. Carlsberg VASE - Wembley 1998


Tiverton Town 1 Tow Law Town 0
Att 13,193


Tiverton Town 1997/98
Back Row: Ramsey Findlay (Football Secretary), Steve Daly, Kevin Nancekivell, Paul Tatterton, Jason Smith, Paul Edwards, Phil Everett, Pete Varley, Pete Conning, Alan 'Dai' Morgan (physio), Dave Wright (Chairman).

Front Row: Pete Buxton (Vice Chairman), Graham Waters, Scott Rogers, Neil Saunders(Vice Capt), Kevin Smith (Capt), Martyn Rogers (Manager), Martyn Grimshaw (Assistant Manager), Micky Fallon, Dave Leonard, Steve Hynds, Kimm Smith (Treasurer).


Above: Tivvy celebrate their first long awaited Vase Success
Above: Pete Varley fires home through Paul Hague's legs


Above: Pete Varley proudly displays, to the waiting
photographers, the latest line in protective headgear.

 Above: He turns and runs back to the dug out and the Tivvy end to celebrate with supporters.

F. A. Carlsberg Vase match reports 1998

Supersub Peter Varley made all Tiverton's Wembley dreams come true by snatching the all-important goal within five minutes of making his entrance on to the hallowed turf. But, while Varley grabbed the glory, it was really the experience of the side that had lost by the only goal to Bridlington 1993 that kept Tivvy on course for their belated victory.

Martyn Rogers' men, having increased so much in confidence since their last visit to the famous old stadium, took the game to Tow Law from the start. But Tow Law's tactics were spot on. To say they relied on the their defence to frustrate Tivvy, leaving the dangerous Jarrod Suddick and Trevor Laidler to chase away on the break, would be too simplistic. The simple facts though, were that Tivvy's attacking options far outweighed those for the Northern League opponents.

From the off the action was frantic and inside 90 seconds Stephen Pickering was stopped in his tracks by a great tackle from Neil Saunders. After that Kevin Nancekivell went close on three separate occasions, his third effort after nine minutes following instictive interplay between Kevin Smith and Steve Daly. Tow Law though, briefly silenced the noisy fans from Devon when Michael Robinson saw Paul Edwards off his line and lofted a long range free kick high over the keeper's head. But Edwards stepped back in time to pluck the ball from under the crossbar.

After Nancekivell had another shot saved by Dawson and Kevin Smith was denied five minutes later with Dawson siting on the ball to stop it, Tivvy must have thought it wouldn't be their day. Especially as, in between those two efforts, only a great save by Edwards denied Suddick, whose trickery on the ball was a pleasure to watch.

Both sides were playing a crisp passing game with hardly a free-kick in sight. But Darren Darwent gave a hint of what was to come when he blocked Tivvy's Micky Fallon in full flight after 26 minutes and was promptly booked. Suddick was then denied by another well timed tackle and there was no let-up in the hectic first half as Dave Leonard's rampaging run down the left wing to float a cross for Kevin Smith to chest down the ball into Phil Everett's path for a shot.

Tiverton posed most attacking problems on the restart with Daly and Everett both going close. But the nearest they came to breaking the deadlock was in the 68th minute when Kevin Smith's shot appeared to have beaten Dawson, only for the keeper to dive backwards to stop the ball before it crept in. A minute later Suddick again tested Edwards, only to find the Tivvy keeper in flawless form. This heralded another spell of constant Tivvy pressure, but it needed a new face to change their luck and Varley, replacing Kevin Smith with 15 minutes to go, proved an inspired substitution. With probably his first decent touch of the game, he swung his right leg at Leonard's pass to crash the ball sweetly past Dawson and Tiverton had finally secured the goal all their hard work and endeavours deserved. The goal sent 9,000 Tivvy fans in a crowd of 12,193 wild with delight and antisipation that their team could hang in there to give them a night of celebration.

Tow lost their cool and Trevor Laidler was booked for lashing out at Jason Smith. Laidler was quickly replaced and Scot Rogers also took over from Kevin Nancekivell. Then, with only three minutes left, Graham Waters replaced Dave Leonard and, inside 60 seconds, he tackled Tony Nelson, only for the Tow Law man to over react. His flash of temper cost him an early bath and virtually put paid to Tow Law's slim hopes of a late recovery, while Waters was cautioned.

Tow Law substitute Lee Bennett was also booked as the game went into stoppage time. Tiverton supporters endured seven agonising minutes, evoking memories of Taunton Town's Wembley nightmare against Diss. But this time the Western League's proud ambassadors held on, defending a couple of late corners, to ensure the Vase had a safe journey down the M5 to Devon and Ladysmead.

Taken from Nigel Davis' report in The Sunday Independent

 

Latest League Position

Po Team Pl Pts
6
Wimborne Town
18
28
7
Taunton Town
18
28
8
Tiverton Town
16
28
9
Swindon Supermarine
17
26
10
Yate Town
17
25

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