Tamworth FC v Darlington FC
Tamworth FC
0-3
Darlington FC
Match Report
TAMWORTH’S FA Cup dream was shattered by a clinical Darlington side. It was an afternoon of frustration with the Lambs ultimately left to reflect on what might have been.
They were well in the game in the opening 45 minutes and a 2-0 was an unfair reflection at half-time. Had Ryan Beswick’s penalty been converted, things might well have been different.
But as it was, Tamworth were left with an uphill struggle in the second half.
And, if the first-half scoreline was harsh, the visitors more than consolidated after the break and could have had more goals had Jas Singh not been on top form.
The Lambs started positively, Ahmed Obeng’s strike well blocked by Terrance Galbraith, but the visitors quickly started to assert themselves.
Adam Campbell curled an effort wide before Darlington went ahead on nine minutes, Tyrone O’Neill converting Campbell’s cross from close range.
It was a poor goal to give away defensively but Tamworth responded, The lively Obeng twice had shots blocked by Ben Hedley before Tamworth had a glorious chance.
Tyrell Waite was upended, earning the Lambs a penalty, but Beswick’s spot-kick was weak and saved by Liam Connell.
Beswick was unable to convert the rebound as Connell reacted.
Tamworth were made to pay on 38 minutes as Omar Holness slotted into the bottom corner of SIngh's net for a comfortable half time lead.
HT: TAMWORTH 0 2 DARLINGTON
Waite flashed an early effort wide at the start of the second half as the Lambs looked for an early response.
But Darlington were out of sight on 56 minutes as O’Neill - on loan from Middlesbrough - hit a sweet shot past Singh. Tamworth tried to respond and Greg Kaziboni’s shot was well taken by Connell.
The next chance summed up Tamworth’s day as Bilal Yafai’s shot was cleared off the line by Josef Wheatley.
The problem after the break was that the visitors were a constant threat on the break.
O’Neill was denied his third by a fine Singh save while Jarrett Rivers was also thwarted by the Lambs keeper.
Holness also curled another effort over the bar while Singh pulled off saves to deny Holness and Justin Donawa and keep the score down.
And so, Tamworth’s FA Cup journey was over.
It’s not reached the heights of the first round but, nonetheless, it’s been a good run for supporters to get behind. Any win over your local rivals is pleasing so to dump Nuneaton out of the competition was pleasurable. Fans enjoyed a good day and great atmosphere at Loughborough Dynamo. And the win over Hereford, on a dramatic night at Edgar Street, will live in a memory too. Now it’s time to focus on promotion, a perhaps the FA Trophy.
There’s still plenty for Tamworth fans to look forward to this season.
Match Report courtesy of Matt Panter, Tamworth Herald
Tamworth Team:
Singh, Frances (Creaney 61), Wilder, Beswick, Magunda, Rowe-Turner, Obeng (Kaziboni 26), Forde, Waite, Yafai (Clement 84), Hoenes.
Subs not used: Walton, Cox, Fry, Reid.
Darlington Team:
Connell, Hedley, Liddle, Wheatley, Storey, Galbraith, Rivers, Hatfield (Bascome 83), Campbell (Laing 71), Holness, O’Neill (Donawa 78)
Subs not used: Elliott, Watson, Bell, Thompson.
Attendance: 1358
Man of the Match: Bilal Yafai
Referee: Mr. R. Massey-Ellis
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