Tamworth  v  Rushall Olympic

Sat 29 Jan - 15:00 Southern League Premier Central

Tamworth

0-4

Rushall Olympic

Match Report

Matchday 36: Tamworth returned home after the previous weekend’s narrow loss to Stratford Town, to face high flying Rushall Olympic in The Lambs 25^th Southern League Premier Central fixture of the season.

In the away fixture earlier in the season, two very late Dan Creaney goals had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and there would undoubtedly be another tough test against the 4^th placed Pics side who had not lost a game since early November. There league record since a 0-1 away defeat to top of the table Banbury was P10 W5 D5 F23 A10 while on the flip side of the coin the 15^th placed The Lambs had mustered only 9 league points from the previous 45 (P15 W2 D3) and were still finding the back of a net to be a problem having scored only 8 (and conceded 25) in the process.

With Dan Bradley and James Hurst ruled out along with the other existing casualties, there were four changes to the side that ran out at Knight’s Lane 7 days previously.

Rushall got the game underway with Tamworth attacking the Meadow Street End in the first half.
After a slow start Singh was brought into action first when Coyle found space down the left of the box and struck a low shot which the keeper smothered.
At the other end Bell looked up and hit a strike towards Palmer’s goal and although it rose over the bar by a foot or two the intention was the main thing.
Usher-Shipway looked for the square ball to Brown on 9 but it was put behind for a Pics corner and dealt with effectively but the visitors kept the pressure on.
Clement spotted half an opening on 15 and rifled his effort into the away fans on the terrace and Walters curled a low shot at Palmer on 19, through a crowded box.
A lofted cross by Walters from the right on 25 got caught in the wind as it made it’s way towards the area, and a foul by Beswick halted play.
The Lambs populated the back line with numbers when Rushall made their way downfield and for the most part dealt with any pressure that the visitors exerted on them.
At the other end on 29 Clement turned a hit a low effort on target but Palmer was never really going to be troubled, and then Bell broke through and placed his shot just wide of the right hand post with Palmer in full flight.
Then in a moment that Singh will want to quickly forget his attempt to get the ball away from the edge of the box saw it go past him, and when Coyle was pulled back and bundled over by Bailey, a red card for the Lambs defender was the result and Whittall despatched the penalty (0-1, 31 mins)
Lyttle struck from the right channel on 35 and forced Singh to parry his shot which was dealt with before any of his teammates could get to it and Usher-Shipway sent a controlled inviting ball in from the right for Whittall to strike at Singh on 39 before one minute added time was shown at the end of the first half which ended without further incident.

HT 0-1

The ten men of Tamworth restarted proceedings but it was Rushall how had the first chance after 20 seconds when Usher-Shipway drilled a low shot at Singh after a game of triangles on the edge of the box.
Wilder forced a corner with an incisive tackle deflecting the ball out over the by-line, from midway into the Rushall half on 47and former Lamb Green headed it away.
Whittall was unable to continue after dropping to the floor and needing treatment on 53, forcing Rushall into a change and Cockerill-Mollett was booked on 55 for a hefty challenge on Coyle on the halfway line.
Moore then hit a goalbound strike from 35 yards on the hour and Singh was well positioned to tip it over for a corner which Lyttle got his head to, but couldn’t direct on target.
Concannon replaced Cockerill-Mollett in a straight swap on the field on 67 and on 70 Moore looked up and took a punt from 30 yards, but his curling shot went over the corner of bar and post.
The visitors put a nail in the points with two goals in two minutes. The first a half volley from the edge of the box from Moore (0-2, 74 mins) and the second a tidy curling finish into the far right from the left of the area by Coyle (0-3, 75 mins)
Singh then prevented a far post header from Lyttle creeping over the line on 80 with a low save to his left.
Four minutes from time Clarke headed home to condemn The Lambs to a very disappointing defeat when the final whistle blew on proceedings (0-4, 86 mins).

Tamworth
Singh, Cox, Wilder, Beswick (Forde 84), Brown, Bailey, Walters (Tahra 77), Thomas, Bell, Clement, Cockerill-Mollett (Concannon 67)
Subs: Whittingham, Pendley

YC: Cockerill-Mollett 55
RC: Bailey 30

Rushall Olympic
Palmer, Green, Mitchell, Thorley, Lyttle, Whittall (Clarke 53), Usher-Shipway, Moore, Brown, Coyle, Batchelor
Subs: Flatt, Glover, Clement, Wasidi

YC: (none)
RC: (none)

Referee: Mr. J Lunn

Attendance: 765