Tamworth  v  Boston United

Tue 23 Jan - 19:45 National League North

Tamworth

0-0

Boston United

Match Report

Andy Peaks’ Vanarama National League North table topping Lambs had been given the weekend off from playing second placed Scunthorpe United by virtue of a frozen Glanford Park pitch so returned to the Compare The Build Community Stadium to take Ian Culverhouse’s mid table The Pilgrims hoping for a repeat of the early season victory at the Jakemans’ Community Stadium.

Peaks made one enforced change from the previous run out at Darlington with Jamie Jellis injured which brought Ben Milnes in as captain and under the watchful gaze of the National League TV cameras with The Lambs media teams MixLR coverage providing commentary, The Pilgrims kicked off towards the Castle End in the first half.
The visitors kept Tamworth penned back for the first few minutes and then Finn tried to make a run down the right channel and was impeded, so a freekick was forthcoming which Finn nearly planted onto the boot of Creaney but it skipped off the surface past him and out for a goalkick.
A freekick on the left from Milnes was then diverted away from Creaney for a corner on the right and Finn’s flagkick caused problems at the Meadow Street end, but Boston cleared their lines.
A long throw from Nicholson forced Willets to head the danger away on 8 as Storm Joceyln threatened to cause problems when the ball went in the air.
A miskick from Singh off Dolman’s back pass on 11 set up Mooney with a very good chance to finish from the edge of the area but The Lambs keeper got his body in the way and pushed it around for a corner which was headed well, but over the target by Mooney.
Fairlamb was adjudged to have brought down Sotona down the Boston right on 19 and Woods lines up the deadball which was headed away by Tonks and when a similar foul went in on Finn on the Lambs right and no foul was given the Shed and Tamworth bench reacted as one, in disbelief.
Another Nicholson throw from the clubhouse side was nearly met at the far post by Mooney on 21, while at the other end tenacious play from Acquaye, Milnes and Creaney saw the former drill the ball into the box but there was no finishing touch to open the scoring.
The blowing wind was joined by blustery rain midway through the first half making anticipation and control difficult, so it was more sensible to keep the ball on the deck, and Curley was booked for a foul on Sotona as he tried to go past him with the ball seemingly stuck to his feet and Bostwick headed the resulting freekick onto a Lambs defender and over the bar for a corner.
Boston keeper Chapman was finding his kicks out of his hands blowing back at the halfway line as the half continued and when the ball came back into his box it also caused headaches so when Milnes drilled it low and Tshikuna connected the wind took it out off a defender for a corner, which ultimately came to nothing.
As the first half drew to a close it was difficult to see where a goal would come from for both sides, as they both struggled to get the ball under control, and Hazel was booked trying to get onto a high ball, but clashing with Dolman for his efforts.
There was no indication how much added time would be played at the end of the first half, but on 47 Tonks sent a long throw from the left into the box and Chapman touched it behind for a corner on the right which was cleared as the whistle blew.

HT 0-0

The Lambs restarted the game and Tonks quickly launched a long throw but United dealt with it and Dolman went down unable to continue so Peaks was forced to make an early change bringing Cullinane-Liburd into the fray.
Mooney picked up a booking for a late challenge on Tshikuna which left the Lambs player needing treatment, and from the freekick Tamworth attacked but Creaney, Finn and Tshikuna were unable to get a shot on target.
Nicholson upended Finn on the right on 54 and so Milnes set up the freekick for his teammate and Willets headed it back into the mix, but the offside flag halted play as it did for Nicholson’s run into Singh’s box shortly after.
Another Acquaye run forced a corner on 68 but it was headed away and Fairlamb’s ball into the six yard box was put over his own bar by Leak to deny Creaney a close range finish on 70.
On 73, Tonks sent another ball into the area but Willets nor Creaney could get a header past Chapman so Tonks tried again from the right instead on 74 and Willets headed it but it dropped over the bar onto the roof of the net.
Gyasi, The Lambs mid-season loanee from his parent club came on with 15 to play and a rare chance for Boston came on 76 but Hazel overhit his volley from 30 yards into the away terracing.
Williams replaced Acquaye on 77 and Meikle, who had featured for Ilkeston on Saturday on dual registration, came on for Milnes with ten to go, handing the captains armband to Willets.
Wiliams forced Chapman into a low save at his near post after being set free by Creaney down the left on 86 and from the resulting corner Bostwick cleared from the far post but it fell to Tshikuna who crossed back in and it drifted just over the head of the leaping Willets who couldn’t have jumped much higher but was still visibly annoyed that he couldn’t convert the chance.
Cullinane-Liburd got a glancing header on target on 90 but it was never going to beat Chapman and Hazel stole in to prod the ball at Singh a minute later but it was easy for the Lambs keeper to smother.
Tonks was able to send another throw into the area as four minutes added time was shown (in the 92^nd minute) and a foul on Williams set up Tshikuna with the deadball on the left but there was no last minute winner, and The Lambs extended their unbeaten run to 8 games with the goalless draw.

Tamworth
Singh, Curley, Finn, Milnes (c.) (Meikle 80), Fairlamb, Acquaye (Williams 77), Willets, Dolman (Cullinane-Liburd 49), Creaney, Tonks, Tshikuna
Subs: Cockerill-Mollett, Deacon
YC: Curley 26

Boston United
Chapman, Nicholson (Ward 61), Bostwick (c.), Leak, Woods, Mooney (Knowles 84), Martin, Hazel, Sotona (Gyasi 75), Richards, Mills
Subs: Rowe, Smart
YC: Hazel 42, Mooney 52

Referee: Mr Richard Eley
Assistant: Mr T. Durno, Mr L. Bowles

Att: 943

MOM: Chosen by match sponsors Pickering Solicitors: Jamie Willets