Knighton double delights Rogers as his Yellows win

TIVERTON Town manager Martyn Rogers was delighted with his side's showing after they defeated Clevedon Town 2-1 at the Hand Stadium yesterday.

Rogers had called for his team to bounce back after their meek 2-0 surrender to Farnborough at Ladysmead at the weekend.

Tiverton's Tom Gardner slides in with a timely tackle during Tiverton Town's 2-1 Southern League win against Clevedon Town at the Hand Stadium yesterday tony merrett

And two goals from striker Tom Knighton proved enough to give Rogers the perfect antitdote to Saturday's defeat.

"I thought we were excellent and really we could have won by a much clearer margin," said Rogers.

"It's strange that you can have two back-to-back performances which are so different from each other but I guess that's what football is like.

"We looked strong going forward and we created a whole host of chances which was brilliant to see.

"That's given us a boost now because it keeps us in touch with the league leaders and gives us seven points out of 12, which is a half-decent start overall."

Knighton bagged his first goal in the 27th minute when he met Arran Pugh's flick-on at the far post following Bobby Hopkinson's long throw.

Pugh almost netted for the Yellows moments later when he nodded a long Steve Book free-kick onto the bar as Tivvy looked to make the most of the pressure they were exerting on the home side.

Just two minutes after half-time Knighton bagged his and his side's second.

In a carbon copy of the first goal, Knighton rose to nod home at the far post after Pugh had helped on a deep Hopkinson throw-in. The Yellows were made to suffer a nervous few moments when Clevedon hauled themselves back into the game with a scrambled goal from Josh Brigham a minute later.

But Tivvy held on to take the points. They could have made the game safe, with several opportunities in the second half.

Knighton came close to scoring a hat-trick, but his shot crashed off the post.

"I don't like to single people out but I thought Tom was magnificent today," added Rogers.

"He didn't stop running and he posed a threat to their defence every time he went forward.

"He thoroughly deserved his two goals and he could even have bagged a hat-trick.

"All in all it puts us in a much better position this week as we look forward to playing Beford on Saturday."