Lowestoft Town v Tamworth
Lowestoft Town
1-1
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Tamworth
Match Report
After a trip to top of the league Banbury United seven days previously, Tamworth made the long trip to Crown Meadow to take on bottom of the table Lowestoft Town and although there was still a mathematical chance The Trawlerboys could save themselves from the drop, it seemed unlikely given the gap between them and the clubs above them.
Tamworth got the game underway kicking towards the Drill Hall end of the ground and went in search of an early opening against the home side, who they had put six of their 86 goals against past them, earlier in the season.
Without the injured Beswick in the side, on 3, a handball gave Concannon, on set piece duty, a freekick which was cleared off Creaney’s toes.
The Lambs leading scorer nearly added to his 18 in the next move though, which ended with him crashing a shot from the right of the box past goalkeeper Tibbles only to cannon back off the far woodwork.
Creaney linked up with Concannon on 10 but the latter was unable to wrap his boot around the ball and the home side got their first sight on goal via a left sided corner which Creaney forced back out but it was whipped back in and Singh pushed out for another corner.
McKeown made a strong run over the halfway line on 15 and would have been unmarked and clean through but fell foul of the offside flag and The Lambs had to try again.
At Love Road end of the ground Knights headed straight at Singh on 21 and as the game switched ends again, Hurst struck over the bar from 18 yards on 25.
The home side went close through a Jack Wilkinson cross which saw Knights glance a header wide of the far post and on 35 two McIntosh corners forced The Lambs to defend with Bailey heading and then Singh catching at height.
In the final action of 3 minutes added time at the end of the first half, Whittingham threaded the ball to Creaney but he was unable to control it and the teams went back into the dressing rooms having both drawn a blank.
HT 0-0
Town restarted the match with The Lambs now attacking the Love Road end and started brightly with McKeown forging down the left into the box under pressure from Lowestoft defenders but he got the ball into the danger zone and Creaney struck for goal but shot wide of the near post.
On 56 Hurst and Whittingham combined down the right hand side but the final shot was blocked and Creaney found McKeown a minute later but the move was stopped again.
The ball was in the back of the net on 58 but once again the linesman’s flag denied Tamworth as Cox’s flicked looping header into back of net was ruled out for offside.
Lowestoft continued to show their resolve and willingness to fight as play switched back towards Singh’s goal and on 63 Reed shot powerfully at the Tamworth keeper then crashed the rebound off the top of the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Knights was booked on 65 for an unnecessary foul on McKeown on left of area.
Creaney got into a good position on 67 but will want to forget his wayward shot which went over the house behind the goal, and after the first Lambs substitution Marcus Wilkinson did similarly, firing over the target from a Jack Wilkinson freekick.
However, with 15 to go, The Trawlerboys took the lead. Reed got the better of Cox by the right corner flag and advanced along the touchline before pulling the ball back for Harvey to finish past Singh on the angle to the delight of the home faithful in the George Herring stand and around Crown Meadow. (1-0, 75 mins)
Two minutes later the goalscorer was booked for clashing with Wilder on the halfway line and Peaks made two further changes for the final 10 minutes or so.
However, the home side nearly doubled their advantage when Cole finished a move past Singh only to find it ruled out for offside.
With three minutes of normal time remaining the two late subs were involved in a flowing move out of midfield which lead to the equaliser. Clement passed to Creaney who switched play to Tahra who then found McKeown in the right of the box and his shot went past Tibbles much to give the small band of travelling Lambs, and those staying in touch from afar, a reason to celebrate (1-1, 87 mins)
Frustrations boiled over in the four added minutes resulting in four bookings – Creaney and Bailey saw yellow, with two for the home side too and the final whistle blew on a probably last visit to Crown Meadow for at least a season, but perhaps more importantly a 10th game without defeat for Andy Peaks’ squad.
Lowestoft Town
Tibbles, Fleming, Wilkinson J., Jarvis (c.), Knights, Coles, Wilkinson M. (Ruffles 88), Tann, Reed, Harvey, McIntosh
Subs (4 only): Wells, Burwood, Pollock
YC: Knights 65, Harvey 75, Tann 90, Reed 90
Tamworth
Singh, Yeomans, Wilder, Hurst, Bailey, Cox (Tahra 81), Concannon (Clement 81), Mussa, Creaney, Whittingham (Walters 68), McKeown
Subs: Howkins, Parker
YC: Bailey 90, Creaney 90
Referee: Mr. Harvey
Attendance: 364
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