Tamworth
V
Wealdstone
Stratford Town v Tamworth
Stratford Town
0-4
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Tamworth
Match Report
After a short Christmas break, The Lambs travelled to Knight’s Lane home of The Bards, looking to continue their unbeaten run which stood at 7 games in all competitions, and five in the league.
Andy Peaks side sat in top spot three points ahead, and with a much superior goal difference over, second placed Nuneaton ahead of kick off while their Boxing Day hosts started the game fourth from bottom in the relegation zone.
The home side had lost 4-2 in their last run out to Alvechurch – the FA Cup heros trying to push themselves away from the drop zone with their games in hand, and who Tamworth would face on January 02. The Bards, under the guidance of one time Lamb Gavin Hurren, featured a couple of names on the teamsheet of recent players in Martin Riley and Mikey Taylor.
Peaks made one change to the side that defeated Leamington to progress in the FA Trophy, with Eoin McKeown replacing Luke Fairlamb at number eleven.
The floodlights came on as The Bards kicked off, and The Lambs quickly forced a corner on the right which Finn put into the danger area, but it was cleared and Tamworth kept up the pressure and when the ball came back out to Milnes on the right of the D he knocked it past his defender took a touch and fired low into the far bottom corner to the delight of the travelling faithful (0-1, 3 mins)
Creaney whipped in a curling teasing cross from the left on 7 but Finn was unable to get around his marker and get a touch before it went out past the far post and a long throw from Curley was headed behind for another flagkick on 10.
A mix up at the back allowed Creaney to net on 13 after Finn made space down the right and with the keeper advancing it just took a short pass and a simple finish for the second goal of the afternoon and Creaney’s 25th of the season (0-2, 13 mins)
Cockerill-Mollett was booked on 20 for a challenge on Lafferty which looked worse than it was and the Stratford man was quickly on his feet for the freekick which came to nothing.
Bradley missed a golden chance to make it 3-0 on 22, lifting his shot from the edge of the area over the target after a good flick on from Finn to McKeown and a pass into space for the attempt which saw the number 10 with his head in his hands, knowing he should have hit the target.
Collard twice denied home captain Grocott’s run and attempt to shoot around the 26th minute mark, and Tamworth were forced to resist more forward pressure until a foul halted play.
Morrison took the ball from the left channel into the right of the box on 31, but was unable to find a teammate as Tamworth sat deep and played with a considered approach, seemingly content with the two goal cushion.
Akubuine was booked for a challenge on Milnes as he ran onto a cross field pass from Creaney out of midfield on 34, and McKeown took the ball into the area forcing a corner on 39 which the industrious Milnes took and Obrien gathered, and Finn intercepted the resulting ball out of the box but the home defence managed to prevent further incursions.
Three minutes added time was shown at the end of the first half and a shot from the left wing from Dawes whistled past Singh’s far post, and in the final action of the half Cockerill-Mollett rifled a half volley similarly wide of the far post from a tight angle.
HT 0-2
The Lambs restarted proceedings and a through ball from Cockerill-Mollett set Creaney free into the left channel on 48 but he was quickly closed down and unable to get a shot away.
Bradley passed short back to Curley on 51 and he sent a right footed cross to the far post for Creaney who headed it down looking for McKeown and although he went to ground there were no shouts for a penalty and at the other end Lafferty fired low at Singh from 20 yards and he smothered the loose ball at the second attempt.
Stratford brought the attacking threat of Taylor on just short of the hour and Curley was called upon to cut out a cross box pass destined for the striker on 59.
Play halted on 60 while Cockerill-Mollett was attended to following a clash of heads in the area and when play resumed McKeown forced a left sided corner which Milnes saw headed away by Riley.
As the December rain started to come down Finn got the ball into the box for Bradley but his left footed shot from 12 yards was stopped by O’Brien.
When The Lambs defence were unable to clear their lines, Singh was called upon to pull of a timely one hand stop to deny Dawes low curling shot towards his bottom left hand corner on 69.
McKeown picked up a booking following afoul on the Stratford right wing on 74 and the deep freekick nearly found it’s way past Singh through Taylor but Singh was able to snatch it from going in under the bar.
And then Creaney was booked for a foul on Riley shortly before being replaced by Deacon who was involved in the move which nearly saw Cockerill-Mollett net another goal, but he volley at O’Brien was batted away for a corner which Dolman rose highest to head on target, but was straight at O’Brien.
McKeown released Deacon into the left of the area of 79 but his shot was pushed away and behind by the keeper, and from the resulting flagkick Cockerill-Molletts header went just wide of the mark.
George replaced Bradley with 8 remaining and McKeown was fouled by Molyneux for a booking for the Stratford man. From the freekick The Lambs put the ball into the box and a foul on McKeown gave the referee no option but to point to the spot for a penalty which Milnes despatched for his second, and The Lambs third of the afternoon. (0-3, 85 mins)
Deacon threaded the ball through to George on 88 and he was brought down by a late slide by Dawes, Milnes stepped up and sent the penalty home for his hat-trick and a 4-0 scoreline. (0-4, 89 mins)
Five minutes added time was shown at the end of the game and Clement came on for Milnes, the former making his 100th appearance for The Lambs in the process.
As the time ticked down on the final fixture in 2022, there was just time for a left sided corner which was headed away and the final whistle blew on eight games unbeaten.
Stratford Town
O’Brien, White, Morrison, Hawker (Taylor 57), McCone, Riley, Lafferty, Akubuine (Molyneux 72), Wright, Grocott (c.), Dawes
Subs: Beresford, Lucas, Dickinson
YC: Akubuine 34, Molyneux 83
Tamworth
Singh, Curley, Cockerill-Mollett, Mussa, Collard (c.), Dolman, Finn, Milnes (Clement 90), Creaney (Deacon 75), Bradley (George 82), McKeown
Subs: Hart, Cater
YC: Cockerill-Mollett 20, McKeown 74, Creaney 74
Referee: Mr. A. Cox
Att: 521
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