Tamworth FC v Hitchin Town
Tamworth FC
1-0
Hitchin Town
Match Report
Looking to build on the excellent midweek victory over Royston Town, The Lambs welcomed The Canaries of Hitchin Town to the CR MOT Community Stadium at The Lamb for their next Southern League Premier Central fixture and The Lambs made one change to the starting eleven with Rhys Hoenes replacing Tyrell Waite. The visitors started the game in the lower regions of the table, compared with The Lambs 2nd, but The Canaries were in fine form having won their last three and defeated Peterborough Sports, who defeated the Lambs seven days previously, in their run.
The Canaries kicked off with The Lambs attacking Meadow Street end in the first half and a foul in the fourth minute set up Beswick from the edge of the D but his strike was taken by Horlock with relative ease.
Hitchin’s left back picked up a knock and during the lengthy stoppage the local ice cream van arrived and jangled the Match of the Day theme tune from the end of neighbouring Cross Street, but neither side really got into the game as the minutes ticked by and there was very little to report until 22 when Magunda felt the after effects of an earlier knock and was unable to continue, so was replaced by Howkins.
Three minutes later and The Lambs were a man down after Howkins pulled Hutchinson down after the Hitchin man went past him in the area and the referee showed him a red card.
Dhillon stepped up for the penalty but put his effort over the left corner of bar and post, saving The Lambs from going a goal down, but Singh was needlessly booked for his reaction and outburst towards the officials after the missed spotkick.
Yafai forced a corner on the right from a Beswick freekick on 35 and he launched the flagkick into the box but Horlock punched it off the head of Creaney and Yafai’s follow up was blocked for another corner.
There were half hearted shouts for handball when Beswick’s ball in from the left corner bounced up at the visiting defence, but nothing came of it.
Two minutes added time were shown at the end of the first half which ended without further incident.
HT: TAMWORTH 0 0 HITCHIN TOWN
After Wilder replaced Hoenes ten men Tamworth restarted the match attacking the Castle End.
Creaney forced Horlock into a stop at his near post on 48 and the corner was nearly met by Fry but Hitchin cleared and Obeng was brought down by Coldicott-Stevens earning the Hitchin man a booking.
Barker was booked for a foul on Beswick on 53 but Forde’s deadball was headed away and Singh was nearly called into action when Hitch broke over the half way line but Gouveia’s effort was wide of the mark from 25 yards and then Obeng tumbled under pressure in the area shortly afterwards, but there was no penalty awarded.
Creaney flicked on a Forde throw from the right on 62 but it didn’t drop kindly for Obeng and although The Lambs kept up the pressure the ball made it’s way back to Horlock.
Horlock smothered the ball from Fry’s flick on of Beswick’s deadball. Then Coldicott-Stevens saw red when he fouled Rowe-Turner as the defender advanced over the half way line and earned himself a second booking of the match to even the numbers out on the field.
The Lambs made a change on 71 with Hearn replacing Obeng, but before the minute could end Beswick’s corner on the right was headed home by Creaney to give The Lambs the lead (1-0, 71 mins)
Marsh and Horlock picked up bookings in quick succession before the final 10 minutes came into view, ad Wilder forced a corner on the left which Beswick put onto Creaney’s head but it looped over the target.
Wilder was robbed with a well timed sliding challenge on 82 for another clubhouse side corner and Creaney curled his shot over the target from left of the box.
A shot from Barker deflected out for a left sided corner which Fry headed away on 86 and at the other end Creaney cut back into the area but couldn’t get his thumping shot past the covering defence.
Three minutes added time was shown at the end of the game and Marsh hit a low shot wide of the mark from 30 yards in the final act of another three points for The Lambs.
Tamworth Team:
Singh, Forde, Gough, Beswick (c.) Magunda (Howkins 22), Rowe-Turner, Obeng, Fry, Creaney, Yafai, Hoenes
Unused: Wilder, Hearn, Clement, Reid
YC: Singh 27
RC: Howkins 25
Hitchin Town Team:
Horlock Green, Walster (c.), Coldicott-Stevens, Eadie, Dhillon, Barker, Marsh, Cawley, Hutchinson, Gouveia (Bell 72)
Subs: Da Silva, Donnelly, Reed, Tearle
YC: Coldicott-Stevens 49, 67, Barker 53, Marsh 78, Horlock 72
RC: Coldicott-Stevens 67
Attendance: 625
Man of the Match: Lathaniel Rowe-Turner
Referee: Mr. Jamie O'Connor
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