Culm United 1, Tipton St John 2 Tipton went into this Easter Monday fixture off the back of what was probably their worst performance of the season two days earlier, writes Richard Williams.

That game produced a dismal 4-0 reverse at the hands of Alphington.

At Uffculme the team made a bright start and ought to have had the points safely wrapped up inside 30 minutes during which time they were the dominant force.

Neil Gooding cannoned a shot against the bar inside six minutes before, four minutes later a Nick Feeney shot was tipped over the bar for a corner. When the ball was flighted into the area, Lee Strawbridge climbed above everybody else, but his goal bound header was cleared off the line.

On 13 minutes Johnny Beer crossed to Strawbridge who nodded on for Jody Freeman to net, but the goal was ruled out for a dubious foul by Strawbridge!

Within a minute Feeney had another shot which went just wide.

On 22 minutes Jake Freeman played a great through ball to Jody Freeman on the left. He cut inside and his shot was blocked away for another corner.

It wasn’t until the 32nd minute that Culm had their first real effort with a shot which went high.

On 39 minutes Jody Freeman did well on the left before laying the ball across for Hadyn Banfield to hit an absolute screamer which was just wide.

Culm started the second half brightly and in the first minute Jack Walker did well to save with his feet from a close range effort.

On 54 minutes Jody Freeman hit a 25-yard free kick that flew straight at the Culm glovesman and six minutes later Banfield’s shot, from a similar range, was marginally too high.

In the 61st minute Walker, in the Tipton goal, kicked the ball long from his hands and the Culm centre back headed it back towards his keeper, but Jody Freeman raced in behind him and calmly stroked the ball past the keeper to give Tipton the lead.

Straight from the kick off Culm went close with an overhead effort.

On 67 minutes they again went close when a shot hit the post and bounced back into play.

A minute late Culm equalised with a goal which was clearly offside. It was flagged for by the Tipton linesman, but the referee overruled him and allowed the goal to stand.

This spurred Culm on and in the next couple of minutes they had two clear chances when their players were through on the Tipton goal, but keeper Walker did brilliantly to keep both close range efforts out with his feet.

Tipton then regrouped and took control of the game again with efforts from Johnny Beer and Jake Freeman who both went close.

Tipton regained the lead on 80 minutes when a Jody Freeman corner was flicked in at the near post by Jamie Connett.

Tipton almost scored a third right at the end of the game when Matt Daly played a fine ball to Neil Gooding who hit a cross from the right which Lee Strawbridge hit literally inches wide.

Man of the Match for Tipton was the ever industrious Matt Daly who seemed to be everywhere on the pitch and maintained that effort throughout the game despite injuring his shoulder quite badly in the first half.