Tamworth
V
Wealdstone
Tamworth v Hitchin Town
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Tamworth
2-1
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Hitchin Town
Match Report
Matchday 16:
The Lambs returned to the CR MOT Community Stadium having gone six points clear at the top of the Southern League Premier Central Division courtesy of the narrow 1-0 away victory over bottom placed Hednesford which came via Dan Creaney’s 17th goal of the season.
Andy Peaks was forced to make two changes to the side that ran out at Keys Park with Ben Hart and Callum Cockerill-Mollett having picked up knocks of varying degrees during the sides 6th straight win, so Liam Dolman came back in at center back and AJ George got his first full start of the season on the wing.
There was a minutes applause prior to kick off to remember club Vice President Arthur Frost and long time fan and local journalist Martin Warrillow who had passed away recently.
Tamworth got the game underway, attacking the Meadow Street End and with less than a minute on the clock a pin point cross from Finn on the right found Creaney at the far post with Horlock exposed and he headed home to open the scoring (1-0, 1 min) and due to the early 2pm kick off, put the Lambs 9 points clear at the top, ahead of Nuneaton in second.
Finn was instrumental in finding George on the edge of the area on 8 and his driven shot tested Horlock although it was straight at him.
Finn then went close himself, with a shot from the middle of the box but lifted it over the target, and before play could restart Dolman had to leave the field with Howkins coming in at the back.
A flowing move involving George, Bradley and Creaney ended on 13 with the latter whipping a shot on his weaker foot wide of the left hand post.
Finn forced a corner on the right on 14 and took it himself, finding sub Howkins at the back post but the defender couldn’t get it on target.
On 19, Dasilva sneaked past The Lambs backline without incurring intervention from the referee, despite calls from the pitch and terraces otherwise, so advanced at Singh but chose to shoot early and ultimately tamely and wide and wasted his chance.
Finn found Bradley in the D on the edge of the Hitchin box on 27 but found his way blocked and Fairlamb was adjudged not to have pushed Hay to the floor in Singh’s area on 28 when another referee may have given a penalty.
At the other end, in a continuing faced paced game, Creaney floated the ball across from the left and found Bradley who struck from 12 yards but Horlock got a touch on it to take it over the bar for a corner but Collard connected with but Horlock and the visiting defence dealt with.
Hay cut back along the edge of the Lambs box on 41 but was unable to get a decent shot away, threatening the the chips or drinks of fans on the Castle End terrace more than Singh’s goal.
The Lambs countered and moved into the final third with George taking on his defensive marker, and managed to get into a position to shoot but it was blocked, and Creaney’s snap shot follow up span off target.
Curley pushed into an attacking position on the right on 44 and crossed low towards the far post, but it was too long for Creaney and the Canaries escaped again. Creaney then picked up the ball and chipped for George in the center but Bell got in the way for a corner from Finn and Collard headed wide of the mark past the far post in the final action of the first half.
HT 1-0
Hitchin restarted proceedings but it was The Lambs who started the brightest with Finn looking for Creaney at the near post from his right wing ball inside the first minute although the close attentions of a defender denied his clear connection.
George made headway into the area from the left through to the right on 50 looking for a clear shot all the way through and when he did take aim and strike it came off a defender for a corner. From Finn’s flagkick Horlock went up but dropped the ball and Creaney hooked it home from a tight angle before it touched the floor for his 19th of the season (2-0, 51 mins)
George ran into the box again on 60 and this time he was tumbled down giving the referee no option but to point to the spot but Creaney was unable to add another to his tally with Horlock diving low to his left to push it away and deny his hattrick.
Whittingham came on for his first appearance of the season on 64, replacing hardworking George, and Hitchin boss Mark Burke also made a couple of changes too.
And it was substitute Sneuls who pulled one back for the Canaries, breaking down the right channel before firing from distance past Singh in off the left hand upright (2-1, 75 mins) and it gave the visitors added impetus, causing The Lambs a few mor problems in midfield, as a few niggly fouls disrupted the flow of both sides and set up a tense final 10 minutes.
Finn received a low pass from Whittingham on 83 and saw his resulting shot balloon out off a defender for a corner which was headed away from Creaney.
Clement gave Man of the Match Creaney a rest for the final 5 minutes and Hitchin pushed upfield forcing a corner on the right but Collard headed it away strongly and then Finn and Whittingham combined to earn a corner on the left.
As the clock ticked down and five minutes added time was shown, Finn had to go off after going down with cramp but came back on and when Hitchin advanced Mussa fouled earning himself a booking and setting up bell with the freekick from 25 yards but it landed on top of the Meadow Street terrace roof.
Hitchin kept on pressing and threw most of the team forward at every opportunity, but Finn nearly capitalised on hesitancy at the back only to be thwarted by the keeper.
Finn and Wilkinson were booked for a tangle in The Lambs final third shortly before the final whistle blew on another three points for The Lambs.
Tamworth
Singh, Curley, Fairlamb, Mussa, Collard, Dolman (Howkins 12), Finn, Bradley, Creaney (Clement 85), Deacon, George (Whittingham 64)
Subs: Jones, Griffin
YC: Mussa 90, Finn 90
Hitchin Town
Horlock, Bell, Black, Georgiou, Barker, Jones, Gouveia (Cawley 67), Gleeson, Hay, Dasilva (Snelus 66), Wilkinson
Subs: Allotey, Ackom, Chambers-Parillon
YC: Gleeson 62, Wilkinson 90
Referee: Mr. D. Pattison
Attendance: 668
MOM: Chosen by match sponsors: Building Design Group: Dan Creaney
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