Southern League South and West Division

Shortwood United 0

Tiverton Town 1

SHORTWOOD joint-manager Alex Sykes felt his side should have claimed a point in a topsy-turvy defeat against Tiverton Town, writes Jim Cunneen.

Sykes said: “We were poor in that first half but we came back strongly and I am disappointed not to have got a point.”

It all started brightly enough for Shortwood. With only five minutes gone Jake Parrott crossed to the far post, Tim Haddock headed back across goal and Jake Lee’s header was grabbed right on the line by Cheltenham Town loan keeper Kyle Lovett.

Minutes later Lovett saved Tiverton again when he blocked a Matt Bennett shot.

However, Tiverton started to make the running and Howe rattled the Wood post from 18 yards.

Neal then took full - advantage of sloppy defending to draw a fine point blank save from King.

The Tiverton goal, when it came after 28 minutes, was no surprise. Wood were caught cold and Howe knocked the ball home from six yards.

The introduction of John Cant and Liam Meredith saw Shortwood come to life.

Tiverton’s defence held firm, but Shortwood can consider themselves hard done by when Haddock was hauled back in the area, but it was missed by the officials.

The home side realised it was not to be their night when Niall Halford intercepted a rare bad ball from former Wood defender Ben Mammola and swept the ball past the stranded Lovett only to see Kington make a superb sliding clearance off the line.

SHORTWOOD: King, Rawlings, Humphreys (Halford 80), Lewis, Haddock, Hancock, White (Meredith 64), Parrott (Cant 70), Lee, Price, Bennett.

Star Man: Tim Haddock.