Tamworth FC v Biggleswade Town FC
Tamworth FC
1-1
Biggleswade Town FC
Match Report
The Lambs welcomed the 6th placed Waders to the CR MOT Centre Community Stadium for the first meeting between the two clubs on a sunny but nippy November afternoon. Lambs boss Dennis Greene was forced to make a couple of changes to the side with Ryan Beswick and Paul Green nursing injuries.
Tamworth got the game underway attacking the Castle End in the first half and after 4 minutes Green’s ball from the right was attacked at the near post by Johnson and he fired it past Donkin to give The Lambs the lead (1-0, 4 mins)
A cross from the Town right wing on 9 forced a corner on the left of Singh’s goal which the Lambs defended strongly but visiting captain Forbes picked up the ball and fired a low shot at the Lambs keeper which he held on to.
The visitors forced another corner with a left sided ball into the danger area which Kettle headed behind on 13 and it took a deflection for a second flagkick on the opposite side. The ball went to the edge of the box and White, unmarked, struck it over the bar.
Lait went past on player on the left but was tripped as he went past a second on 17 and Long-King received a stiff talking to from the referee before picking up a yellow card for his efforts.
Lait fired the deadball into the area but Town defended it away from danger, however good play from Smith released Green down the right on 20 and he whipped in a low cross which Donkin was first to this time.
Green showed his skill to control a deep cross into the right corner on 21 but was off balance for the cross which went high and wide.
At the other end Kirkpatrick swung his boot at an inviting chance 18 yards out and forced Singh to smother the ball.
McNamara spotted an opening on 26 and forced Singh to tip over his swerving drive from 20 yards.
A deep freekick from Lait on the left was headed behind for a corner on 32, came out to, and was fired low by, Magunda through a sea of players, but Donkin was equal to it.
Johnson and Lait combined for the latter to advance into the box on 37 and Biggleswade conceded the corner to prevent Waite picking up the cross from the left so Lait fired it in and received it back but the flag prevented Smith or Johnson making anything from the cross.
White tried his luck from just outside the box twice in a couple of minutes but on 40 he fired diagonally wide and on 42 he blasted over by a few feet and Singh was happy to watch both go out without any intervention.
As the clock ticked into the 45th minute Kirkpatrick curled a shot form the left of the D past the right hand upright and one minute added time without further incident.
HT: TAMWORTH 1 0 BIGGLESWADE TOWN
Biggleswade restarted the match with the floodlights now fully lighting proceedings and the moon high above the Meadow Street End in the evening dusk.
Both sides struggled to get the ball into the final third in the early exchanges but on 55 Lait forced a corner and it was flicked on by Magunda to Smith at the far post but his attempted close range finish was blocked and cleared.
A foul by Magunda by the clubhouse set up the visitors with a freekick on 57 and Ball whipped the ball into the area. Singh flicked it behind for a corner which fell into the box and a couple of snap shots forced Singh to protect his far post and when it came out to Perry he lifted his effort over the target from 12 yards.
Biggleswade went close on 65 but whipped the ball across the face of Singh’s goal and at the other end Clement did similarly from the left on 66 with Johnson close but not close enough to adding another to his tally. Smith threaded the ball through the back line on 71 and Johnson tried to get onto it, but found a Wader defender in his path and then Waite’s touch was far too heavy for Johnson to sprint onto as the ball went back to the keeper from 35 yards.
Asante took to the field for Smith as the temperature dropped and Tamworth went in search of a second goal. Clement was upended by the left corner flag on 78 but Kettle’s header from 12 yards went high and wide.
Waite was then brought down in the right channel on 80 and Smith was booked for his efforts. Biggleswade pushed forward as the minutes passed and in the 88th minute a cross from the left was hooked into the net by Smith from 6 yards out to make it all square (1-1, 88 mins)
Brookes latched onto a flick on through the Lambs back line on 90 and volleyed over the target from 12 yards as the 90th minute was completed.
Dunkley tried to force a corner on the left on 92 and Waite flicked the ball on but Asante was unable to finish the half chance.
Verma was brought down after good work from Asante and the former took the freekick from 30 yards but it came to nothing and the final whistle blew on a point a piece.
Tamworth Team:
Singh, Green K. Gough, Magunda, Kettle (c.) Jemson, Lait (Clement 59), Verma, Smith G (Asante 75), Johnson (Dunkley 82), Waite
Subs: Maphosa, Evans
Biggleswade Town Team:
Donkin, Woolster, Perry, Forbes (c.), Smith, Long-King, McNamara (Clark 68), Kirkpatrick (Nwaboukei 52), White, Ball, Bell (Brookes 79)
Subs: Ghent, Donnelly
YC: Long-King 18, Smith 80
Attendance: 563
Man of the Match: Charlie Jemson
Referee: Mr. K. Hughes
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