Darlington  v  Tamworth

Sat 13 Jan - 15:00 National League North

Darlington

0-1

Tamworth

Match Report

Following the 3-0 away victory at Warrington in midweek, which saw Andy Peaks’ Lambs got 5 points clear at the top of the Vanarama National League North, Tamworth made the long trip north to Blackwell Meadows, home of bottom four club Darlington for their next encounter a week prior to the trip to second placed Scunthorpe United.
Peaks made one enforced change to the side that ran out at Cantilever Park Ben Milnes replaced by Nathan Tshikuna while the home side had recently signed former Lamb Scott Barrow in their starting eleven, although another ex-Lamb, Akwasi Asante did not feature while Jamie Jellis made his 50^th appearance for Tamworth.

The home side got the game underway but The Lambs quickly won possession and a long throw from Tonks caused early danger.
A foul on Acquaye in the left channel on 7 set up Tshukuna with the deadball, and Creaey got his head to the floated freekick but it was easy for Taylor to catch at head height.
Tonks was able to launch another throw from the left this time around, on 12, and when it fell to Acquaye in the right of the area he drove his angled shot home inside the far post (0-1, 12 mins)
Acquaye, Tshikuna and Creaney combined after gaining possession from The Quakers restart but The Lambs striker’ snap shot was well wide of the mark, and at the other end Fairlamb and Willets were called upon to keep the ball away from Singh’s goal with well timed headers.
A home corner came on 16 which Creaney defended at the near post and a hefty boot from Curley finally cleared the danger as the home faithful urged their side to attack.
Barrow took the ball down the left and forced a corner from his cross off Curley, but before the kick could be taken Jellis was unable to continue so was replaced by Reilly.
Tshikuna released Acquaye into the area on 25 who drilled it into the box and it went out for another Tonks throw but Creaney was unable to get a firm header onto it, and he was unable to beat the offside trap in the next Lambs move forward on 28 which would have seen him go one on one with Taylor.
From a Tonks cross on the half hour Finn struck a left footed half volley just past the far post and Tshikuna forced Taylor to parry a low curling shot away from danger on 33.
Liddle and Ngandu combined at the other end of the pitch to force Singh into a simple save on 34 and Creaney was caught offside from a long ball which he would have undoubtedly tested Taylor with on 35.
A handball on the Lambs left of defence set up Hendley with freekick on 40 but despite the encouragement from the partisan home crowd they couldn’t create a meaningful chance and Singh was forced to clear the danger from a long ball which saw Nelson bear down on him.
A late challenge on Curley by captain Platt earned the Darlington player a yellow card on 43, but there was no booking for Nelson who put the ball in the net after the offside flag has been raised against him following a good run by Lees.
Two minutes added time was shown at the end of the first half, which ended without further incident and the Lambs went in a goal to the good.

HT 0-1

The Lambs got the second half underway and although the floodlights were on the sun hadn’t dropped enough to darken the skies as Tonks took a blow to the head in the early exchanges and needed treatment off the field as play continued around him.
Acquaye threaded the ball through to Creaney in the box on 49 and his angled shot skipped past the far post before Tonks could return, and Tshikuna picked up a delayed yellow card on 51 for a challenge on Liddle. The referee had allowed play to continue as the home side had advantage, but when the Lambs clearance went over the seating stand, he was shown a card.
And Reilly was similarly penalised for a more forceful tackle on Ngandu in the centre circle less than 60 seconds later.
The Lambs defence were caught a little on the hour when Barrow whipped the ball into the box and Nelson connected but couldn’t get any direction on it, and the travelling faithful were holding their breath again on 62 when the home side forced Tamworth back again, until Tshikuna was able to get in the way.
It looked like The Lambs responded perfectly, but after a strong run to the edge of the area, Acquaye’s shot beat the keeper but also went past the left hand post by a couple of feet.
Deacon replaced Tshikuna before play restarted, and it was his strike partner Creaney who nearly hit the back of the net with a lob over the advancing Taylor but the keeper managed to get his fingers to it to prevent him.
Finn was given a free corner from a Barrow defensive header on 66 and with Acquaye off the pitch following a foul, Darlington defended and tried to push forwards, but The Lambs back line held very strong and Acquaye needed further treatment before being replaced by Williams.
As the darkness fell and the game entered the final ten minutes there was no let up from Darlington and a foul by Fairlamb on Curry 20 yards from goal in the left channel gave the Barrow a chance to line up his deadball but despite a measured approach he lifted it over the wall and the target.
Tonks, Finn and Creaney all went down in quick succession as the minutes ticked by, needing various degrees of treatment but also ultimately leading to additional added time at the end, and a challenge by Reilly on Barrow the left brought the Darlington player to the floor.
Deacon and Finn were booked for preventing a home throw from taking place on 89 and an expected seven minutes added time were shown and as expected The Quakers pushed The Lambs back with Reilly blocked a shot from Hatfield and Ngandu firing over the target from 20 yards from the rebound.
Singh was booked for timewasting a goalkick, and a foul by Tonks 25 yards out set up Barrow again as the clock hit 95 minutes and Tamworth defended with everything, as Creaney booted it half the length of the pitch on two occasions.
Home keeper Taylor ventured as far as the half way line in one attacking move as Reilly, Tonks and Dolman and Willets all headed everything that came their way.
Williams sprinted from the halfway line to the box with the ball at his feet and went down under pressure but no penalty was awarded, and when the final whistle blew the relief at holding for the seventh straight win was felt by all associated with The Lambs.

Darlington:
Taylor, Hedley, Platt (c.), Lees, Lawlor, Ngandu, Liddle (Hatfield 67), Nelson, Barrow, Salkeld, (Curry 57), Lindley (Rivers 73)
Subs: Sukar, Windass
YC: Platt 43

Tamworth:
Singh, Curley, Finn, Fairlamb, Acquaye (Williams 70), Willets, Dolman, Jellis (Reilly 22), Creaney, Tonks, Tshikuna (Deacon 63)
Subs: Cullinane-Liburd, Cockerill-Mollett
YC: Tshikuna 51, Reilly 52, Deacon 89, Finn 89, Singh 92

Referee: Mr Shaun Taylor
Assistant: Mr S. Wright, Mr C. King

Att: 1402