Late goal sinks Tivvy at Swindon

SAM Malsom scored his first goal since his return to Tiverton Town but it was not enough as Swindon Supermarine consigned the Yellows to a second Southern League defeat in the space of four days.

Tivvy were behind as early as the second minute when Steve Cook was left unmarked to head home a right-wing cross.

Malsom equalised in added time at the end of the first half but Swindon's top scorer Joe Harris deflected in the winner near the end.

Swindon scored from their first meaningful attack, Gary Horgan whipping in an early cross and Cook, in acres of space, was able to guide his header just inside the far post. Tiverton replied when Joe Bushin bustled his way into the area, despite a tug on his shirt, and planted a cross that Sam Malsom could not waste.

After Horgan was forced out of the game with a head injury Tiverton began to assert some authority on proceedings. One rare flowing move, with Colin Marshall typically at the heart of it, culminated in Joe Bushin's cross/shot being saved low down by Matt Bulman. And a more direct approach from Marshall forced the Swindon keeper into a diving save.

Bushin looped a header onto the post with Bulman beaten. That was as much as Tiverton threatened in the second half but they defended stoically. Luke Hopper was denied by Steve Book just seconds after Alex Faux had cleared a shot off the line. Kyle Lapham fired wide and, with five minutes remaining, Chris Taylor struck a fizzing shot from outside the area that rattled the woodwork.

However, three minutes later Mike Booth conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position 20 yards from goal. Harris stepped up and, although his shot was weak, the ball squirmed through the defensive wall, taking a crucial deflection on the way that wrong-footed Book for the winner.

Swindon Supermarine: Matt Bulman, Kyle Lapham, Matt Robinson, Gary Horgan (Sean Wood 14), Leigh Henry, Justyn McKay, Ashley Edenborough, Steve Cook, Luke Hopper (Joe Harris 76), Chris Taylor, Nick Stanley

Goals: Cook 2, Harris 88

Booked: Bulman 52, Hopper 69, Edenborough 90

Tiverton Town: Steve Book, Adam Faux, Alex Faux, Mike Booth, Nathan Rudge, Tom Gardner, Colin Marshall, Sam Malsom (Josh Ford 87), Joe Bushin, Mark Saunders, Elliott Frear (Jamie Hatch 73)

Goals: Malsom 45

Booked: Rudge 30, Bushin 52, Booth 67, Adam Faux 90, Ford 90

Attendance: 127