Tamworth
V
Wealdstone
Tamworth v Southport
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Tamworth
4-0
Southport
Match Report
Andy Peaks’ Lambs returned to The Compare The Build Stadium at The Lamb following their 2-0 reversal away at a wet and windy Chester seven days previously.
With the injury last getting shorter, Peaks bid thanks and farewell to loanees Max Brogan and Michael Gyasi who returned to their parent clubs.
Meanwhile while Chris Wreh, on loan from Hartlepool, made his home debut after coming on as a second half substitute at The Deva Stadium, replacing Ty Deacon in the starting eleven both at Chester and for the game against Southport.
The Lambs got the game underway and the first chance of the game fell to Finn in the box on 3 but despite time to pick his spot from 12 yards on the left of the spot he lifted his shot over the bar.
At the other end Holmes was able to fire low at the left hand post and Singh collected it easily, and so The Lambs advanced and a foul on Tshikuna by Walton set up a freekick on the left of the D.
Tshikuna lined up the deadball and duly lifted it over the wall and into the far corner over the dive of Renshaw (1-0, 6 mins)
Acquaye was then felled on route to the box down the left on 8 and Squires was booked for his foul, setting up Tshikuna again but a foul in the ensuing play prevented Cullinane-Liburd from heading the chance on.
A couple of long Tonks throws caused problems for the visiting defence around the 15 minute mark, and then on 18 Jellis hit a low strike from 25 yards which Renshaw pushed up and over the bar for a corner on the right. Referee Burgin had to deal with a off the ball incident before the kick could be taken, but when it did it fell to Jellis again however his volley went well wide of the mark.
Then, on 26 The Lambs doubled their lead. A Tonks throw from the right looked like it was going to drop into the top left corner to the goal (and play would have restarted with a goalkick) but Renshaw pushed it away for a throw on the left which, when the ball came back in found it’s way into the back of the net via a ball from Acquaye, a touch from Cullinane-Liburd and a final ‘help’ from a Southport defender or perhaps Wreh (goalscorer TBC). (2-0, 26 mins)
A poor challenge by Bennett on Tonks which propelled him to the ground inbetween the dugouts on 36 earned the Sandgrounder a booking and Flowers and Tshikuna one each too for their part in the ensuing melee.
When play restarted The Lambs took the initiative again and when the ball fell to Wreh in the right of the area he drove one home for Christmas (think about it!) to the delight of the home faithful (3-0, 39 mins)
In added time at the end of the half Curey launched a freekick into the box forcing Southport to defend strongly but they came forwards and Bennett drove a low shot wide of the mark.
Acquaye forced a left sided corner as play entered the 50th minute and Tonks’ ball in was headed behind for another on the left which was cleared as the whistle blew for half-time.
HT 3-0
Southport restarted proceedings as the sky darkened and The Lambs and Tonks found himself on the wrong end of some hefty challenges in the first few minutes and he was involved in the first chance of the half when the ball threaded through to Jellis on the left of the area at the Castle End but he was taken wider left and fired into the side netting.
Tonks’ throw from the right was headed behind for a corner on 57 and although Dolman got to it the referee spotted another foul and play was stopped.
Another corner came, quickly, on the opposite side of the field and Tshikuna tried to load it when it fell to him at the far post, but Southport responded with a quick break and Hmami was able to get a shot away which went high over Singh’s goal.
At the other end, Acquaye drilled a shot from the left of the box on target only for Thomson to block and clear it as it looked like goal number four was going in.
A neat one two between Wreh and Jellis on 64 ended with a low shot from Wreh which didn’t trouble Renshaw.
Curley overlapped with Finn on 69 and the ball was switched to Jellis who forced another corner with a deflected low shot, giving Tshikuna a strike from 18 yards off the corner but it was put behind for another and cleared.
Another Tshukuna shot was put out for a corner, and Milnes came on for the forward, took the captains armband off Singh and take the corner which eventually, via a Tonks’ lob and a deflection, went out for another.
Creaney replaced Wreh before that flagkick could be taken, and Tamworth kept possession and maintained the pressure as Finn struck The Lambs 4th with a curling shot from the right channel which beat Renshaw’s dive to his right and went in by the post (4-0, 76 mins)
Creaney may have bagged his sides’ fifth a minute or two later but was unable to swing his boot at the chance fast enough after Renshaw has pushed it away and then both players were booked for a minor tussle for the ball on the line.
Finn and Bainbridge then clashed on the halfway line and there was disagreement when the kick was give to the visitors.
Substitute Williams tried a low angled effort on 88 which Renshaw touched around the post for a right sided corner which was cleared, but The Lambs continued to keep the ball and force Southport back and Williams brought a good save from Renshaw with a left footed snapshot on 90.
Four minutes added time was shown at the end of the game and Williams was on target again but denied again by Renshaw and in the final move of the game Carver struck the far post with a shot past Singh before the whistle blew on three points for The Lambs ahead of a trip to Peterborough Sports.
Tamworth:
Singh, Curley, Finn, Fairlamb, Acquaye (Williams 83), Cullinane-Liburd, Dolman, Tshikuna (Milnes 72), Jellis, Tonks, Wreh (Creaney 74)
Subs: Jones, Willets
YC: Tshikuna 20
Southport:
Renshaw, Thomson, Flowers, Morgan (c.), Carter, Walton (O’Neill 79), Quansah, Hmami (Bainbridge 62), Holmes, Squires, Bennett
Subs: McMillan, Sass, Heath
YC: Squires 8, Flowers 37,
Referee: Melissa Burgin
Assistant: William Muray & Joe Cunningham
Att: 1100 (55 from Southport)
MOM: Chosen by match sponsors PSO Installations: Jamie Jellis
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