Tamworth  v  Rushall Olympic

Tue 26 Dec - 15:00 National League North

Tamworth

2-1

Rushall Olympic

Match Report

The Lambs returned home after Christmas to welcome their most local neighbours in the Vanarama National League North, Rushall Olympic. Former Tamworth player Liam McDonald’s side who had been promoted at the same time, came to the Compare The Build Community Stadium one place above the relegation zone, although they had enjoyed a good win over play hopeful’s South Shields before Christmas.
Andy Peaks’ side had continued their good form away at Peterborough Sports at the same time, bagging a second four goal haul on the bounce, and recording only the fourth in the club’s history that substitutes had netted three goals in a game in the process (the last time was in 1995). With Scunthorpe winning their early kick off game The Lambs could draw level at the top again with a win, while a 7-0 scoreline would see them take top spot on goal difference.

In front of the National League TV cameras and with LambsMedia providing commentary via MixLR, Tamworth got the game underway attacking the Castle End in the first half.
A long Tonks throw on 2 head to be dealt with by his former teammates and the ball was cleared to the other end for an Olympic corner which was not cleared or dealt with in the box and Badley-Morgan rifled it home from a few yards out in front of the travelling Rushall fans. (0-1, 3 mins)
Tamworth responded quickly and Tshikuna forced a corner with an angled shot from the left of the area which was put behind by the keeper and despite the best efforts of the Lambs and a curling shot from Finn the ball wouldn’t go it.
Wreh then forced Weaver to push the ball away when it looked like he would find the back of the net as the expectant Lambs fans continued to will their side on.
Acquaye cut past his marker and into the box but was brought down by Sullivan for a penalty on 8 which Wreh stepped up to, but Weaver guessed correctly and pushed it away.
Tonks’ throw from the left was headed behind by Edge for a flagkick by the clubhouse on 13 but his corner went into the side netting, and a minute later Cullinane-Liburd’s back header forced Weaver to dive and catch his on target effort.
At the other end, a whipped in right wing cross was put behind and Dolman dealt with it, and Tamworth advanced down the left resulting in a foul on, and a freekick for, Tshikuna but it as blocked and the resulting chipped ball forwards skipped and out of play allowing McDonald to make an early change bringing former Lamb Green into the fray at right back.
Wreh was then denied by Weaver when the ball ran free after good work by Acquaye and Tshikuna on the left and centre of the field but the offside flag prevented him, and Tonks’ follow up.
A teasing cross from the left from Finn on 26 was met by the head of Jellis under pressure near the far post but he could only glance it wide of the mark, and play switched up the field in favour of Rushall as Waldron was brought down by Tonks but the resulting freekick came to nothing.
Wreh threaded it through to Tonks on the right on 32 but Weaver was equal to the low driven ball into the box, however a couple of minutes later when Wreh knocked it through to Finn, the latter delightfully back heeled it past the unexpecting keeper for the equaliser. (1-1, 34 mins)
Tamworth nearly took the lead on 36 when Fairlamb sent Acquaye down the left wing and he flashed into the area and drilled it low but Finn was unable to connect first time so Rushall escaped.
On 42, a niggly tackle on the edge of Singh’s area gave Rushall a freekick and after the referee had sorted out the Tamworth wall McLintock drilled the deadball into the wall and it deflected out for a corner on the left but came to nothing.
Four minutes added time was shown and George drilled a low shot from the right into the arms of Singh before the whistle blew.

HT 1-1

Rushall got the game back underway and had the first chance of the second period when Dolman’s tackle released the ball for Moore to strike low and he forced Singh to dive full length and push it away from the left hand post.
Dolman was then denied at the other end when a long Tonks throw bounced around him and he got a boot to it but Weaver palmed it away.
Weaver was booked for time-wasting on 57, and not before time was the opinion of the home fans who cheered the referee showing him the yellow card!
And Edge was duly booked for a late and strong challenge on Cullinane-Liburd on the touchline in front of the shed on the hour, and the freekick fell to Tonks who volleyed straight at Weaver.
A third booking came on 61 when George booted the ball away and Cullinane-Liburd was then also booked for an off the ball challenge on Waldron.
The Lambs made a double change on 63 with Willets and Creaney replacing Curley and Wreh but it was defender Liburb who hit the back of the net when Tonks throw came in and he loped it over the visiting keeper and into the far corner (2-1, 65 mins)
A flowing move out of defence saw Creaney send Jellis over the halfway line and he was able to force Weaver into a low stop from his angle shot but it didn’t come back out far enough for Tshikuna to capitalise.
Jelis was pulled back and down by Fletcher on the left on 71 and despite the best intentions of Creaney and Dolman neither could force it home.
Jellis repaid the compliment with a through pass for Creaney to take into the final third on 78 but Weaver was able to push his strike it around the far post for corner and the keeper punched Tshikuna’s flagkick away from danger.
Acquaye and Fairlamb combined to find Tshikuna on the edge of the box on 80, and he cushioned it to Creaney but he had strayed just offside in the move.
Milnes replaced Tshikuna for the final 10 minutes and from his ball down the line Acquaye robbed Clarke but couldn’t get past Weaver and Fairlamb was forced to defend a George cross as seven minutes added time was shown.
In added time Creaney picked up an ‘unnecessary’ booking after going through on a Jellis pass he was called offside and took the ball too far forward for the referee’s liking, and the Finn was the recipient of another strong challenge which meant he needed treatment on the halfway line before play could continue but not before the Lambs midfielder was also booked as his management team also protested the decision.
Fairlamb was booked for timewasting a throw on 100, and the referee finally blew the whistle on another three points for The Lambs ahead of the return fixture in less than 4 days time.

Tamworth:
Singh, Curley (Willets 63), Finn, Fairlamb, Acquaye, Cullinane-Liburd, Dolman, Tshikuna (Milnes 81), Jellis, Tonks, Wreh (Creaney 63)
Subs: Jones, Williams
YC: Cullinane-Liburd 62, Creaney 94, Finn 97, Fairlamb 100

Rushall Olympic:
Weaver, Hudson (c.), Fletcher (Landell 73), Clarke, Badley-Morgan, McLintock (Masidi 72), Moore, Waldron, Edge, George, Sullivan (Green 19)
Subs: Coyle, Singh
YC: Sullivan 9, Weaver 57, Edge 60, George 61

Referee: Liam Corbett
Assistant: Craig Thompson & Joseph Larkin

Att: 1465 (59 from Rushall)

MOM: Chosen by Match Sponsors - Swish Building Products: Chris Wreh