Tamworth
V
FC Halifax Town
St Ives Town
1-2
Tamworth
At a ground The Tamworth had never won at on the two previous attempts the side returned to League action with a trip to St Ives, and a chance to move up the table, should results go the right way elsewhere too.
On the new Westwood Road 3G pitch, Tamworth were without the services of Ryan Beswick so Tom Ward took the captains armband. For the home side, former Lamb Nabil Shariff was The Saints centre forward.
In bright sunshine, which was shining directly at Lambs keeper Singh, Tamworth kicked the game off but there was an early charge forward by the home side as McWilliams fed Shariff in the box forcing Tamworth to be quickly on their guard.
Concannon and Waite combined well in the early exchanges and a foul on Kellermann on the right resulted in a freekick which he sent towards Creaney at the far post, but keeper White was able to pluck it out of the air.
Then on 6, Kellermann got the ball through to Creaney and he jinked past his covering defenders before sending a shot seemingly goalward from the left of the box into the top right, but it rose too quickly and struck the bar and rebounded out as the vociferous travelling faithful hoped for an early celebration.
Wilder and Pendley had to deal with Shariff and Williams intentions as the latter unleashed a shot with took a deflection and forced Singh to protect his area.
Creaney then fed Concannon and his low shot forced White into action with a low save at the left hand upright.
Yeomans showed great determination and strength to get the ball up field and set up Waite with a shot but it was cleared by the home defence,
Hottor struck from distance at Singh on 19 before Yeomans ball into the area was taken off the head of Creaney by White.
Flanagan struck a similar effort to Hottor a minute later and the result was the same with Singh able to take the strike with ease.
Waite struck a promising effort over the bar from 25 yards on 28 and Kellermann made a strong run into the box but Williams dealt with the danger.
Yeomans required the assistance of the physio just past the half hour and after a few minutes consultation decided he was unable to continue, much to his obvious disappointment, and after a drinks break Malandjou-Kondjo took to the field in his place.
From the restart Tamworth pushed forwards, Concannon drilled the ball into the box and Forde was perfectly place to strike it low into the back of the net from 18 yards out. (1-0, 37 mins)
After the restart, at the other end, Ward’s back header had to be pushed out for a corner by Singh and Cross sent his flag kick into the box, it came to nothing but St Ives pushed on and Williams found Shariff with a ball from the right into the centre which had to be dealt with.
When Concannon was brought down on the right wing in added time, Kellerman fired the freekick into and through the box without anyone managing to et onto the end of it, and in the final play of the first half Waite struck a left foot effort from 18 yards over the bar, when well placed.
The hosts restarted the game but it was Tamworth with the first half chance when Concannon sent the ball into the box and Malandjou-Kondjo was unable to get a shot away.
Kellermann continued to prove to be a problem for The Saints, sending a cross into the near post on 53 and setting up Concannon on 57 with a strike in the box which was smothered.
Two minutes later the Chesterfield loanee was booked for a foul on Williams and the same player sent his freekick high and wide of the mark from 25 yards.
Hottor tried another shot from 20 yards on 61 which Singh took shortly before Creaney forced White to parry his shot from the edge of the area.
Saint Ives started to enjoy a bit more of the play without really threatening, while on 72 Kellermann was the provider once again but Creaney couldn’t keep his header from 12 yards down.
Home captain Parker picked up a booking on 73 for a foul on Concannon and the home side made a change with 15 to go, following a foul on the Lambs left wing.
Kellermann stepped up to strike the deadball when play restarted and although White got a hand to his powerful strike he couldn’t stop if sneaking inside the near post to double The Lambs lead. (2-0. 77 mins)
After a couple more changes, St Ives forced a right sided corner and after clearing the initial danger Cross sent the ball back in and Singh punched the ball away.
However, St Ives continued to keep the ball in the final third, and substitute Harding forced a corner with a deflected shot on 88.
From the flag kick Shariff turned it home from close range to set up a tense final few minutes.
And as the clock ticked into added time Kellermann was adjudged to have handled the ball just outside the area whilst in mid air attempting a blocking jump which appeared to strike him on the head / chest before his arm. However, the referee was closer to the action and showed Kellerman a second yellow card and so sent him off for the final few added minutes.
After over five nerve biting minutes the Lambs on the field and the terraces celebrated a hard worked first ever victory at Westwood Road.
The Lambs finished the day in third place in the table, with a trip to first placed Peterborough Sports ahead of them on Tuesday night, in a potential winner stays / goes top scenario.
Singh, Yeomans (Malandjo-Kondjo 36), Wilder, Thomas, Ward (c.), Pendley, Concannon (Walters 78), Forde, Creaney (Taylor 59), Kellermann, Waite
Subs: Clement, Tait
Yc: Kellerman 58+90 = sent off
White, McWilliams, Flanagan, Hottor, Solkhon, Milne, Cross, Parker (c.) (Snelus 90), Shariff, Williams, Hicks (Harding 75)
Subs: Heath, Agemoh-Davies, Toseland
YC: Parker 74
Referee: Mr. Daniel Todd
Attendance: 214