Tamworth
V
Newcastle Utd PL2
Basford United
1-3
Tamworth
After the almost unbelievable 9-1 victory over Hednesford Town a week previously The Lambs travelled for the first time ever to Greenwich Avenue to take on Basford, on their (now) 3G surface.
As Dan Creaney made his 100th appearance for the club, Andy Peaks made just one change to the starting eleven brining in Eoin McKeown from the start, with Alex Bradley unavailable, while Lucas Yeomans celebrated his 19th birthday by donning the 19 shirt on the bench.
For the opposition United named no less than five former Lambs players, none more so in Gregg Smith who donned the captains armband.
Basford got the game underway, kicking towards the tram lines behind the far goal, but McKeown was first to force a corner on the right which ultimately came to nothing.
However, the Lambs did take the lead on 8 minutes when a corner from the right was headed back across by goal by Curley and smashed into the roof of the net from 8 yards out by Creaney to the absolute delight of the travelling faithful behind the goal (0-1, 8 mins)
A few niggly challenges started to cause ructions between the teams as the time ticked towards the 20 minute mark with Collard arguing the captains case on two occasions, as Hart was booked.
Creaney just failed to beat the offside trap from a threaded pass from McKeown through the Basford back four on 20.
Singh pulled off a fantastic save to deny Dwyer a powerful strike from 12 yards on 25 after a cross whipped into the box from the right and fell perfectly for the Basford man to test the keeper, but was left ruing not directing it to his right of left.
Fairlamb made a mazy run down the right on 28 in to the area and beat his marker, Bettis, but his resulting cross was far too strong and ended up going out for a throw on the opposite side.
Creaney needed treatment following a knock to his ankle on 32 but was OK to continue.
On 28 Smith headed down for Dwyer and the latter struck a low shot on target, forcing Singh to drop and smother it at his near post, an at the other end McKeown curled a cross in from the right looking for the head of Creaney, but Preston was able to catch it ahead of any attacking intention from The Lambs number 9.
But it was left to McKeown to double the advantage on 40 racing onto a loose ball bouncing towards the box before lifting it over the stranded Preston and was already celebrating as it bounced once into the back of the net (0-2, 40 mins)
A Finn corner on 43 fell nicely onto the head of Creaney and Curley blazed his shot over the bar from the edge of the area and when play resumed Basford got a goal back in a similar fashion with Dwyer lobbing Singh from open play (1-2, 44 mins). Before The Lambs could get play back underway,
Collard needed extensive treatment on the field for a hefty knock dislocated his shouolder, in the build up to the home goal going in, without causing the goal itself to be in any doubt and after being slowly helped back to the changing rooms for further attention, he was replaced by Deacon with 49 first half minutes played, and five additional minutes were shown at the end of the half.
The shuffled Lambs, with Mussa now captain, got the second half underway at 16:10 and went on the attack but play quickly switch the other way with Betts whipping a cross into the area and shouting for handball against Hart, which the referee was having none of.
Barnes forced a corner on the left on 48 which was dealt with and then Finn caught the same player 12 yards from the area setting up a central freekick for Chapman to strike at goal, but it was easy enough for Singh to catch in a slow dive.
McKeown was denied a shot from the left of the box on 52 by a timely Betts challenge as Tamworth tried to extend their lead.
Finn was clattered on the touchline and required treatment on 54 and then Smith clattered Cockerill-Mollett and left the number 3 on the floor as he picked up a deserved booking.
From the long ball down by Singh, Creaney was pulled over and set a freekick up for Finn, which rebounded up and around the box but with Preston stranded Creaney was unable to direct his header past the last man.
Deacon directed a header from a cross from the right on 62 past the far post, as Preston, unlikely to be beaten by the effort, threw himself for the cameras in the general direction of the ball!
Creaney made no mistake though, latching onto a through pass to fire at Preston from inside the area in the next move. The keeper couldn’t hold of his initial low strike and could do nothing about the follow up to re-establish the lead and being the travelling fans behind the goal into joyous celebrations once again (1-3, 63 mins)
Creaney nearly headed home for his hat-trick on 66 from Fairlamb’s left sided pinpoint cross, but it fell just wide of the near post with Preston well beaten.
Starkie found space from Dwyer’s chest down to fire low and secure a left sided corner on 67, but the flagkick was wasted by the home side.
Fairlamb was provider for Creaney again on 72 as his cross look destined for the striker, but it was just behind him and he was unable to get a shot away after his initial touch.
McKeown saw his name go into the book after a challenge on Roma on the edge of the Basford box on 74, and then responded with a strike just past the right hand upright after beating his man and heading diagonally into the box.
Singh needed on the field treatment for cramp with 12 remaining, and his back line had to be on their mettle to deny Bastos and Starkie’s advances down the left as the clock turned to 10 remaining.
McKeown’s foul on Bastos on the right wing on 83 set up United with a dangerous deadball which Creaney headed away from danger, and at the other end Peters was booked for upending Finn as he burst down the left wing.
Campbell picked up the ball on the edge of the area and also his spot almost perfectly on 87 but saw his curling right foot effort come back off the woodwork.
Cater came on for Finn for the remainder of the action, his first since early October, as four minutes were shown for added time and ended with another three points in the bag ahead of a run of three home games in quick succession.
Basford United
Preston, Betts, Barnes, Irvine, Roma, Chapman (Peters 65), Bastos, Starkie, Smith (c.), Dwyer (Bull 74), Grantham
Subs: Campbell, McGowan, Musson
YC: Smith 57, Peters 85
Tamworth
Singh, Curley, Cockerill-Mollett, Mussa, Collard (Deacon 45 +4), Hart, McKeown, Milnes, Creaney, Finn (Cater 88), Fairlamb
Subs: George, Clement, Yeomans
YC: Hart 18, McKeown 74
Referee: Mr. David Jones
Assistants: Mr. Parris, Mr. Mason
Att: 451