Heavitree Social United 2nds 2 ,

Tipton St John 4

Tipton started this match where they left off on Wednesday evening, playing some fine football and almost opened the scoring after six minutes when Adam Connett went close from a fine cross from Adrian Small, writes Richard Williams.

It only took them another minute to do so when a free kick from Ashley Small was side footed in by Adrian Small. They increased their lead when Adam Connett hit a fine shot, only for the keeper to pull off a good save but the ball fell at the feet of Jody Freeman who slotted it home.

Heavitree nearly pulled one back two minutes later when they had a header which went just over the bar. Tipton got the ball in the net from a Adrian Small header but, following a late flag, the referee chalked it off for offside. Three minutes later Tipton made the score 3-0 when a Lee Strawbridge shot hit a defender and rebounded to Ashley Small who scored from close range. Ashley Holding hit the side netting with a shot but Tipton got a fourth when Adrian Small cheekily lobbed the full back with a high ball into the centre of the area where Adam Connett scored with a fine header.

Tipton sat back after the break and Heavitree scored twice.

The victory sees Tipton climb above their opponents and Witheridge to a mid-table position in the league. Special mention should go to the two young full backs, Sam Baker and Glen Salter, who didn’t put a foot wrong all afternoon and Salter earned Man of the Match honours for his display.

Tipton went on to beat Halwill 4-0.

Tipton started this match well and only took 7 minutes to take the lead from a close range effort from Jody Freeman following a cross from the right. This was followed two minutes later when a shot from Ashley Small went just wide. Halwill had their first attack on 14 minutes and were only prevented from equalising by a fine save from Dale Strawbridge. He again kept Halwill scoreless on 26 minutes when he made a great save from a close range effort. The remainder of the first half was a stalemate with both teams suffering in the heat and for Tipton in particular this was their fourth game in ten days.

Tipton started the second half with a bit more pace and Ian Pring hit the bar with a header from a long throw after 49 minutes. Four minutes later Ashley Baker ran onto a fine through ball but hit his shot just wide. Ten minutes later Adam Connett came close with a shot which went just over the bar. On 77 minutes Lee Strawbridge, who had come on as a substitute, hit a great long shot over the keeper and into the back of the net which helped to settle Tipton down. Halwill almost pulled one back three minutes later when a great ball from their left wing was headed just over the Tipton bar. On 83 minutes Tipton went further ahead when James Youlden did well to control the ball on the right edge of the box and play the ball across to Adam Connett who scored from close range. Connett again went close two minutes later when he had a shot well saved. On 89 minutes Lee Strawbridge made the final score 4 – 0 with a fine header from a long throw by Adam Connett. This was Tipton’s fourth win in their last five matches which were all away and moved them up to the top half of the League Table. Man of the Match for them was full back Sam Baker who followed up his fine performance on Saturday with an equally good one here.

Next up for Tipton on Thursday (28th) is the Grandisson Cup Semi-Final against Lympstone at Ottery St Mary FC. Kick off 7.30pm then on Bank Holiday Monday they are away to Chagford.