Tamworth
V
Wealdstone
Tamworth v Leiston
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Tamworth
3-1
Leiston
Match Report
A week after the 2-0 home victory over Stratford Town, the third placed Lambs went into the final seven days of the normal season with a tough test ahead of them as second placed Leiston made the long journey from Suffolk in the game of the day in the Southern League Premier Central.
The game not only pitched the two sides together as they vied for second spot and possibly even the top spot depending on how Coalville got on away to Stratford Town, it also pitted the league’s two leading goalscorers against each other with Dan Creaney (32 league goals) and Will Davies (on 29).
Andy Peaks made one change to the side that defeated The Bards with Callum Colckerill-Mollett returning for the injured Luke Fairlamb.
Tamworth got the game underway attacking the Meadow Street End in the first half although both sides took their time to get to full speed in a considered start to the game, not willing to give their opponents any room to move.
A foul on Jellis on the half way line on 6 allowed Hart to launch the freekick deep into the box and Finn’s return ball in from the clearance nearly found a target in the box, but was cleared.
McKeown ran through on a missed ball towards Donkin but the keeper got their first on 7, and from the other side Hart tried to beat the keeper with a long range lob that went just wide of the mark.
Finn advanced down the right on 9 but found his way into the box blocked by Jarvis, and at the other end Singh got his first touch of the ball when Mills whipped a first time cross in looking for either of Davies or Quantrell.
Kyle Finn nearly drew first blood on 12 but saw his shot from the right clip the top of the crossbar and Creaney struck a volleyed effort drop wide of the mark, as the intention to go for goal was clear.
The striker got into a good position to head Finn’s right wing cross and put it wide of the near post, but there was no mistake from his striking partner McKeown in the next move.
McKeown advanced down the left and cut along the by-line before drilling the ball into the box and it took a wicked deflection off Dronfield to wrong foot Donkin and nestle in the far corner. (1-0, 18 mins)
The Lambs continued to keep the pressure Leiston, chasing down all the loose balls and trying to disrupt the visitors play before it could get momentum over the halfway line although Mills did manage to get a shot away on 30 which had to be carefully blocked and cleared.
Collard blocked the run of Davies and a potential sight on goal on 32 as Leiston enjoyed a spell of possession and a handball from Creaney as Tamworth defended on 37 set up Barnes with a freekick in the right channel.
At the other end on 38 McKeown crossed for Creaney but he was beaten to his header and Hart took the corner on the left and there was no mistake from the flagkick as Collard powered his header home at the far post to the delight of the partisan crowd (2-0, 39 mins)
Mills escaped with just a talking to after kicking out at Willets and then McKeown’s shout for a penalty was not given and the whistle blew on proceedings.
HT 2-0
Leiston got the second half underway and Tamworth found themselves left wanting at the back within the first minute when Mills received the ball to feet, took it on a stride and rifled his shot past the despairing dive of Singh (2-1, 46 mins)
The Lambs forced Leiston to defend in numbers as Deacon, Creaney and Finn all saw close range shots blocked around the 50th minute mark, as Stratford took the lead against Coalville to put The Lambs at the top of the table on goal difference.
Tamworth’s early nerves seemed to quickly dissipate with that wake up call as Deacon, Creaney and Finn all saw shots blocked and cleared, and it took a last ditch stop from Donkin to deny Meikle’s drive on 54, and Collard’s header from the resulting corner dropped onto the top of the net.
A foul on Creaney on the right wing on 59 set Finn up with the freekick and he sent it left footed into the box for Creaney to head home and restore the advantage (3-1, 59 mins)
Hart picked up a booking for a foul on Quantrell on the halfway line on 63, and from it Leiston advanced resulting in Davies first shot of the game which Singh took easily.
Leiston made two changes on 66 and in the next move Creaney picked up the ball but found Hutchings in his way when the ball dropped for his shot from 12 yards and foul on the left allowed Hart to find Collard in the area on 72 but Donkin was able to smother his close range effort at the far post.
Leiston forced a corner on the right on 75 which Jellis dealt with via a hefty boot, but a foul on Davies by Collard set Barned up from 15 yards but all he could do was put it on the roof of the Meadow Street terracing.
Hutchings was booked for a foul on Jellis on the left and Cater came on for McKeown on 83, and made an almost impact, jinking past his marker who brought him down in the area for a penalty at the Castle End. Creaney stepped up and stuttered his run up allowing Donkin to guess correctly and smother his effort and deny him a 39th goal of the season.
Mussa and Jones came on for Creaney and Deacon as the game went into four minutes added time and The Lambs played keep ball in the corner as the second ticked down.
There was just time for Fowkes to try a speculative shot from distance on 94, but it was off target and there was time for a last ditch attack from the visitors which Singh caught and he released Jones but he couldn’t get away from his covering defender to get a shot away before the final whistle blew.
Tamworth
Singh, Hart, Cockerill-Mollett, Meikle, Willets, Collard (c.), Finn, Jellis, Creaney (Mussa 89), Deacon (Jones 90), McKeown (Cater 83)
Subs: Dolman, Clement
YC: Hart 63
Leiston
Donkin, Hill, Dunbar (c.), Saunders, Rossi Jarvis, Hutchings, Barnes, Dronfield (Ryan Jarvis 66), Davies, Quantrell, Mills (Fowkes 66)
Subs: Bailey-Dennis, Marsden, Johnson
YC: Hutchings 82 Rossi Jarvis 90
Referee: Mr. Sam WESSON
Assistants: Mr. Karia & Mr. Clenton
Att:1240
MOM: Chosen by CR MOT Centre: Alex Collard
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