Morchard Bishop 3, Tipton St John 1

Tipton started this match against runaway League leaders Morchard Bishop flat out from the first whistle and totally outplayed their opponents with some fine passing football, writes Richard Williams.

This paid off after only five minutes when a fine move, involving Adam Connett and Ashley Small ended with Small being brought down for a penalty which was well put away by Adrian Small giving Tipton a well-deserved lead.

Tipton continued to play the better football but were pegged back after 17 minutes when they conceded a soft penalty for an unlucky handball from which Morchard Bishop equalised.

Tipton continued to press and came close from a 25 yard strike from Jody Freeman which went just wide. Tipton continued to press and play the better football and went close when a long-range shot from Lee Strawbridge was saved. Three minutes later Ian Pring headed just over the bar from a corner and a minute after that Adam Connett ran onto a fine through ball from Ash Small, but his header was saved and the score remained level at half time.

Morchard Bishop came out in determined mood for the second half and upped their work rate, forcing Tipton to defend for long periods. Barry Wood made a fine save with his legs following a goal mouth scramble, and made another fine save from a powerful header, diving full length to his right. Morchard Bishop’s pressure finally paid off when they were awarded a second penalty from which they took the lead.

Wood made another fine save from a well-struck close-range shot. Neil Gooding’s long range strike went high and, within a minute, Morchard Bishop made the score 3 – 1 from a fine individual goal.

Tipton worked really hard throughout this game and were unlucky not to have got at least a point at the end of it.

Their Man of the Match was Lee Strawbridge, who had a fine game in midfield, which he dominated in the first half linking defence and attack. On Saturday, Tipton face a tough trip to Witheridge.