Tamworth
V
Newcastle Utd PL2
Tamworth
3-4
Coventry City
Matchday 22:
Tamworth took a break from league action for a week and welcomed the Sky Blues U21s to The Lamb for the first competitive fixture between the two sides since 1970-71 when a two legged final of the Camkin Cup was contested, which City edged by the odd goal in five.
In August 2022, Coventry announced the appointment of John Dempster as the Club’s Senior Professional Development Phase Coach overseeing the U21s, which is interesting to Tamworth fans as John played for The Lambs in 2012 under Marcus Law with help from the supporters run TeamBuilder scheme (who hold their 2022 AGM this coming Thursday night). John, a former Scotland U21 International signed on an emergency loan from Mansfield Town and was previously with Rushden and Diamonds, Oxford United and Kettering Town where he made almost 200 appearances. John made 6 appearances for us, scoring once versus Luton Town at The Lamb.
Ahead of the FA Trophy 2nd Round home tie against Boston United Lambs boss Andy Peaks used the Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round tie to give playing minutes to squad members that were not in action at the weekend at Leiston, with only Luke Fairlamb, Liam Dolman and Jamie Jellis starting, who had also started at Victory Road.
After the Last Post played in remembrance of those who had fought for our freedom, City got the game underway attacking the Castle End.
Jones was bundled over as he tried to advance down the right wing on 3 and Cement lined up the deadball but it was headed away by the City defence.
George was then upended in a similar position and this time Bradley launched the freekick into the box for Bailey but he was unable to get direction on the header, although his teammates continued to press until Whittingham was forced into the corner and the ball went out for a goalkick.
Coventry tried to build but were halted by Hart who picked up a booking for his efforts and although the visitors resumed play and Nee struck from distance but also well wide of the target.
George was upended again, this time on the left of the area on 16 and so Bradley struck it right footed into the area and it was only half cleared to Bailey who swept it home into the bottom right corner from the edge of the D for his first ever Lambs goal (1-0, 16 mins)
A long throw from Hart forced a right sided corner on 21 which was headed away as Tamworth continued to press and another foul, this time on Clement, set up Bradley on the left corner of the box once again but it was too long for anyone to get onto.
Fairlamb, now the only ever present player of the season, forged a path down the left and crossed but Clement’s shot from 18 yards went straight at Bell in the Sky Blue goal.
Whittingham curled a right sided shot at Bell on 31, and he nearly found Jones and George on 37 but his low cross was flicked away by Alabi in the box.
At the other end, Hart fouled on the left edge of the box giving Howley a chance from the freekick and it took a deflection to send it past Singh into the far corner and level the tie (1-1, 36 mins)
McGrath was booked for a foul on Bradley on the edge of the area and although his deadball was knocked away, Clement struck the rebound and that took a touch past the far post for a corner. It was headed behind past the far post for another flagkick and out to Jellis but Coventry defended strongly before the whistle blew.
The Lambs restarted proceedings and on 49 Bradley struck a freekick through the Coventry wall but it curled wide of the left post without troubling Bell.
Coventry raced upfield in the next move but a short pass denied Tavares a shooting chance as Fairlamb covered and cleared and on 57 Singh was called into action by Nee and batted his shot away before Fairlamb pounced on the rebound and cleared the danger again.
Then, on 62, there was a foul by Fairlamb on Tavares in the area, although it was far from goal and the ball appeared to be running out of play, however, Tavares dusted himself down and fired past Singh from the penalty spot to give City the lead (1-2, 64 mins)
Both sides made a change with former Coventry City youngster Finn, who made a senior appearance for the Sky Blues in August 2017, taking to the field for Clement on 65.
Bradley fired high and wide with a speculative strike from 20 yards on 70, while on 71 Costello set up Tavares in the right of the box but he too failed to find the target with his effort.
Parker replaced Whittingham with 18 remaining and on 74 Finn was sent tumbling to the ground as he tried to advance through into the final third, earning Howley a booking in the process. Bradley lined up the deadball and wasn’t too far away, but didn’t test Bell.
A long throw from Hart on 77 was nodded behind for a Finn corner on the right and it had to be cleared off the line by McGrath and Cockerill-Mollett replaced George before the corner was taken but it came to nothing.
Finn forced Bell into a blocking save to the keeper’s right on 87, but it was left to Tavares to show how to do it with a simple finish after being allowed a lot of space to race onto a through ball and play it under the Singh as he advanced to to the edge of the box and try and cut down the angles. (1-3, 88 mins)
And on 90 Costello turned the ball home from close range after Singh was unable to keep hold of a low strike from Nee (1-4, 88).
But there was still time for a close range finish from Parker to make it 2-4 on 92 and on 94 Alabi brought down Jones and he fired home from the penalty spot to reduce the arrears but there was no chance of a fourth that would have sent the game into penalties (3-4, 95 mins) before the final whistle blew.
Tamworth
Singh, Hart, Fairlamb, Bradley, Bailey, Dolman, Whittingham (Parker 72), Jellis, Jones, Clement (Finn 65), George (Cockerill-Mollett 79)
Subs: Fallows, Griffin
YC: Hart 11
Coventry City
Bell, Rowe, Lusala, Howley, Alabi, McGrath (c.), Dinanga, Rus, Obikwu (Costello 65), Tavares, Nee
Subs: Perry, Rachel, Ascowieren, Batanwi
YC: McGrath 37, Dananga 50, Howley 75
Referee: Mr. Mountain
Attendance: 430
MOM: Flowmatik Network Services chose Ben Hart