Hartpury FC suffered a 3-1 defeat against Tiverton Town on Tuesday night at the Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium.
Kian Davies’ second half free-kick became just a consolation around three punishing Tiverton goals, during this Southern League Div One South match-up.
The Acorns named an unchanged line-up from Saturday’s late victory over Barnstaple Town but saw Keon Sanniola return to the bench.
It was an electric start to proceedings from the Acorns who mustered five dangerous opportunities in the opening 15 minutes.
After a quick counterattack, Billy Osborn saw a low driven effort well saved by Louis Smith in Tivvy’s goal, inside two minutes.
Nathan Jenkins struck a perfect effort from 25-yards, on four minutes, but saw the ball skip just past the far post.
Tivvy did go close on six minutes with Owen Howe, but Riley McGregor was on hand to produce an important block six yards from goal.
Osborn could only glance a header wide on 10 minutes, before Morgan Ewing’s drive into the area was ended by a good low save from Smith two minutes later.
Louis Manning and Jenkins linked up fantastically outside the area, on 14 minutes, allowing Jenkins to curl an effort towards the far corner but it skipped wide.
Drew Robinson saw a cross turn into an almost shot on 32 minutes, when the ball dipped just over the bar.
Seth Locke’s first call to action came on 40 minutes when he had to deny a Matthew Wood headed effort.
But a minute later, Howe had Tivvy ahead with a volleyed effort from just inside the area, seeing the Acorns trail at the break
HALF TIME – TIVERTON TOWN 1-0 HARTPURY FC
It was the worst possible for the Acorns in the second half, as Ryan Keates swept home a second for Tivvy just two minutes into the new period.
Jenkins saw an effort well blocked behind on 52 minutes, before Davies got the Acorns back in the game three minutes when he nestled a free kick into the bottom left corner from 20 yards.
Davies almost turned provider on 58 minutes when his deep corner was struck into the side netting by a stretching Josh Roney.
Locke was needed again on 64 minutes when he produced a vital block at his near post, keeping the Acorns in the game.
But Tivvy did find a third on 71 minutes when Wood turned home a cross from 12 yards, following a free kick routine.
The ball broke kindly for Jenkins 18 yards from goal, on 78 minutes, but his low driven effort skipped past the post.
Manning drove across the penalty area on 84 minutes before striking an effort, that looked destined for the top right corner, but a Tivvy head managed to divert it away.
Deep into stoppage time, Manning did have the ball in the net after an initial shot cannoned back off the bar, but it was ruled out for suspected handball or offside seeing the Acorns fall to defeat on the road.
The Acorns are on the road again on Saturday, when we travel to Dorchester Town in the Southern League Div One South.
FULL TIME – TIVERTON TOWN 3-1 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Locke (GK), Kent (Silva 77’), Robinson (Sanniola 66’), Roney (Callow 77’), McGregor, Davies, Jenkins, Coates (Aldridge 54’), Manning, Ewing, Osborn ©
UNUSED SUBS: Symons
ATTENDENCE: 184
Written by Sam Yapp
