Tamworth FC v Royston Town FC
Tamworth FC
2-0
Royston Town FC
Match Report
After Saturday’s defeat away to Peterborough Sports the Lambs found themselves in 5th position and welcoming in form 3rd placed Royston Town, unbeaten in 14 games (of which only 2 were drawn), to the CR MOT Community Stadium with just a point between them in the knowledge that the winner of league game would move into second.
The Crows got the game underway with The Lambs attacking the away end in the first half and both sides started the game at a canter with both keepers called into relative easy action in the first five minutes.
Obeng found Forde on the right of the box on 9 and forced a corner but Beswick’s flagkick was headed away.
The Lambs took the lead on 12 following good work from Yafai and his ball to Waite on the left was crossed into the box for Creaney to glance home at the far post (1-0, 12 mins)
Gough’s cross from the left was nearly met by the sliding finish of Yafai on 17 but he was a couple of agonising inches away from it and Royston cleared their lines.
Yafai then released Waite into the box on the left but his low cross was smothered by Smart and a corner from Beswick a minute later kept pressure on the visitors.
Yafai ended a triangular flowing move out of midfield on 22 but Creaney was unable to get to his low drive towards the far post and finish the half chance.
At the other end Bateman span on the ball to strike goalward from 18 yards on 28 but Fry put his body on the line and Singh was called into action to catch a long freekick from the left wing on the half hour.
The visitors exerted more pressure past the half hour mark, with a left sided cross that just evaded a couple of intended headers, and a corner on the right on 33 which saw 17 payers on the goalline and a foul which halted play.
Mentis received a talking to from the referee on 35 after a foul on Forde by the clubhouse which The Shed thought warranted a booking.
He was booked on 41, as Obeng went down under pressure in the box and a difficult header from the resulting corner from Creaney went over the bar.
Another corner caused problems for The Crows defence, and a handball was not given as the ball pinged around the box as the clock ticked towards half time.
Added time came and went without further incident and The Lambs went in a goal to the good.
HT: TAMWORTH 0 1 ROYSTON TOWN
The Lambs restarted proceedings and Royston came out of the blocks a little quicker than Tamworth.
The Crows penned The Lambs back and on 52 a freekick by Bridges was watched wide by Singh.
Another freekick came on 54 and earned Yafai a booking in the process. Scott Morriss’ ball went straight through to Singh. On the hour, Creaney flicked the ball through for Obeng to run onto and it took Smart to bring him down to prevent a second Lambs goal but he did concede a penalty in the process which Beswick struck past him from the spot for his 15th of the season (2-0, 60 mins)
Another Crows freekick was awarded on 63, and it was saved on the line by Singh before being cleared away at the far post.
This spurred the visitors on but Tamworth nearly made it 3 when the ball skipped through to Obeng on the right of the area and his shot forced Smart into a telling stop at the corner of bar and post.
Forde got his head in the way of a powerful shot from Bridges on 66 and Bateman struck a volley straight at the keeper from 18 yards on 69.
Rowe-Turner blocked Bateman’s effort 73 and Asafu-Adjaye struck from 25 yards on 74 and Singh duly saved to his left well.
Asafu-Adjaye then pulled Obeng down on the right corner of the box on 78 setting up Beswick with the deadball but it was straight at Smart.
A high boot on Obeng inside the Lambs half by Asafu-Adjaye was punished with a booking on 80 and the Tamworth number 7 needed treatment before being replaced a few minutes later.
Hearn replaced Waite with a minute to go and went close with an angled shot from the left on 95 as added time allowed The Lambs to work the ball into the corner, or clear their lines as required against a Royston side that kept going right until the final whistle blew on a return to winning ways.
Tamworth Team:
Singh, Forde, Gough, Beswick (c.) Magunda, Rowe-Turner, Obeng (Hoenes 84), Fry, Creaney, Yafai (Howkins 95), Waite (Hearn 89)
Unused: Wilder, Clement
YC: Yafai 54
Royston Town Team:
Smart, Scott-Morriss, Brighton, Bridges, Murray (c.), Asafu-Adjaye, Mentis (Green 88), Castiglione, Adams (Parr 58), Bateman, Ofosu (Crowther 71)
Subs: Warner-Eley, Welch
YC: Mentis 41
Attendance: 424
Man of the Match: Ahmed Obeng
Referee: Mr. R. Williams
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