Tiverton Town 4

Shortwood United 1

By Jim Cunneen

SHORTWOOD co-manager Alex Sykes felt his side were 'below-par' in a comprehensive defeat at Tiverton.

The Devon side raced into a 3-0 lead at the break as an under-strength Shortwood slumped to defeat.

Sykes said: “This was disappointing to say the least and we were well below-par.”

Earlier, Shortwood were boosted by the return of club captain James Coates who returned from an 18-month injury lay-off.

However, Tivvy opened the scoring on eight minutes as Mike Williams fizzed home from the edge of the area.

Tom King made a great save with his feet to deny Landricombe before the game turned against Wood in the 31st minute. Will Morford raced through from an onside position to shoot home, but was denied by an offside decision. Tiverton swept forward and a wind-assisted Williams corner dipped over King.

The goal tide continued as  Phillips fired into the bottom corner from 25 yards.

Wood leaked a fourth goal from the penalty spot - Richards sending King the wrong way from the spot on 71 minutes.

A minute later Marley Thomas missed a great chance for Shortwood.

Shortwood grabbed a consolation goal when Callum Wands, on his debut, picked out  Andy Lewis.

Ross Staley struck the foot of the Tiverton post from 20 yards and King made another smart save to deny the impressive Landricombe in the last minute.

SHORTWOOD: King, Rawlings, Humphreys, Lewis, Meredith, Hancock, Thomas, Price (Coates 62), White (Wands 68), Morford, Staley.