Tamworth
V
Newcastle Utd PL2
Royston Town
0-2
Tamworth
After the previous weekend’s defeat by Needham Market and with a one point gap between The Lambs in top spot and second and third placed Coalville (2 games in hand) and Leiston (played one more), Andy Peaks took his side to 8th placed Royston Town, one of the in form sides of the league.
Peaks made three changes to the side from the previous weekend as Alex Collard returned to the side as captain, with Gift Mussa and Luke Fairlamb as Lindon Meikle, Jamie Willets and Kyle Finn all took a spot on the bench at Garden Walk.
The Lambs kicked up the slope towards the clubhouse end of the ground and got the game underway in the first half in the glorious March sunshine.
Tamworth started brightly, taking the game to The Crows but a foray forwards by the home side forced a corner when Newman’s lofted cross from the left was pushed over the bar by Singh.
Collard glanced it away for a flagkick on the other side of the pitch and Creaney dealt with the low near post ball. The same player forced another corner a minute later but Collard was able to head it away again.
The first clear chance of the game fell on 10 when Cockerill-Mollett whipped a cross in from the left and McKeown got his head to it, but he couldn’t get enough direction on it to test Kyriatzis in the Royston goal and news came through that Coalvill had taken the lead at home to Kings Langley, meaning The Lambs were knocked off top spot for the first time since late September.
Newman struck from distance on 14, straight at Singh, and he caught it cleanly, but after a foul by Curley on the half way line, the keeper allowed the deep freekick to slip through his grasp and was thankful for the presence of Dolman behind him to clear his lines.
A low strike from Jellis whistled just past the left hand post on 25 as Nuneaton took the lead at Needham Market, and McKeown forced a corner off his covering defender, Murray on 26 but neither Creaney not Collard could threaten with their headers.
Milnes then loaded a left sided freekick on 28 and it allowed Creaney to get free of his otherwise close marking and on the end of it with a powerful downward header in a central position, into the back of the net and set travelling fans behind the goal into wild celebrations! (1-0, 28 mins)
As former Tottenham and England star Glenn Hoddle watched second cousin George, playing for Royston, Fairlamb shot low from the left of the area on 30 and McKeown got in behind his marker on 36 forcing the keeper into a double save.
A move out of midfield allowed Creaney to flick it through to McKeown on 43 but his reverse shot didn’t fool Kryiatzis who caught it at chest height, but The Lambs continued to press and a foul on McKeown set up Milnes on the edge of the D on 45 and his shot was destined for the top left corner but the keeper pulled off a great one handed save to deny him.
Two minutes added time as show at the end of the first half and The Lambs went into the dressing room with the solitary goal advantage.
The Crows restarted proceedings and started on the front foot, taking the ball down the slope and working hard to win the ball back.
Harness caught Collard on the halfway line and so was booked for leading his leap with an elbow on 52.
Creaney nearly turned provider on 54 with a diagonal ball to the edge of the area which McKeown burst onto, but he was prevented from shooting by a well timed challenge by Brighton.
And then it was 2, when a misplaced header on the half way line by the Royston midfield, allowed McKeown to burst into the opposition half which was completely devoid of any other players bart the keeper, and calmly slot his shot past Kyriatzis from the right of the area from a few yards out (0-2, 58 mins)
Play halted for a minute or two while Curley received treatment on the filed just past the hour and ultimately he had to make way for Finn for the remaining 25 minutes with Jellis dropping back to right back.
Creaney was booked for a challenge on the touchline on 71, as the Tamworth fans celebrated an equalising goal for Kings Langley against Coalville as the home side made their final change of the afternoon, and then Milnes picked up a booking for kicking the ball away.
Milnes was caught on the halfway line by Rotimi who was also yellow carded and Creaney made way for Deacon for the final 15.
Finn as unable to forge his way through his covering defenders on the edge of the box on 82 as Dasilva cleared his lines as The Lambs continued to press and forced a left sided corner which went long to McKeown but Jellis couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball to get it back into the box.
Finn ended a flowing passing move into the area on 86 with a low shot but it was straight at the keeper and didn’t make it 3, and then Deacon got onto the end of a Cockerill-Mollet cut back but found the keeper perfectly positioned to deny him too.
Deacon was upended by Rotimi on the left of the D on 88, setting up Milnes once again to try his luck and his deadball dipped just over the crossbar.
McKeown was replaced by Meikle for the final few minutes, and Jellis went toe to toe with Brighton to force a right sided corner, which Milnes floated to the far post and Dolman header went out via a deflection for another which dropped onto the roof of the net as Coalville netted an injury time winner in their game.
The referee indicated six minutes added time at the end of the second half which ended without further incident and a well deserved Non League Day three points thanks to a hard working run out to keep The Lambs title challenge well and truly alive.
Royston Town
Kyriatzis, Dasilva, Brighton, Bell-Toxtle (Rotimi 62), Murray, Asafu-Adjaye (Crowther 73), Williams, Hoddle, Bateman, Barnwell (Harness 37), Newman
Subs: Castle, Hall
YC: Harness 52, Rotimi 76
Tamworth
Singh, Curley (Finn 64), Cockerill-Mollett, Mussa, Collard, Dolman, McKeown (Meikle 89), Milnes, Creaney (Deacon 76), Jellis, Fairlamb
Subs: Jones, Willets
YC: Creaney 70, Milnes 75
Referee: Mr. M. Conn
Assistants: Mr. Uylet, Mr. Kelly
Att: 563