Tamworth
V
Wealdstone
Scunthorpe United v Tamworth
Scunthorpe United
0-1
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Tamworth
Match Report
The quickly rearranged game at Glanford Park saw the table topping Lambs travel to take on second placed Scunthorpe United with a reduced number of Tamworth fans able to make it to support their side for the Tuesday night game to see the two most prolific and mean sides take each other on.
That said, those that were able to travel were going in good voice and hopeful of a repeat of the weekends win over Spennymoor that saw Andy Peaks side go nine unbeaten and nine points clear of The Iron.
150 fans that couldn’t get to North Lincolnshire headed for The Lamb clubhouse instead to watch the game on the big screen via National League TV, along with the author of this report!
For his 99th competitive game in charge Peaks made no changes to the side that defeated Spennymoor and The Lambs kicked off attacking the home end of the ground in the first half in the white and blue kit.
A long throw from Tonks put the ball into the Scunthorpe box early doors and on 7 a ball to Finn saw the midfielder caused problems again forcing the home defence to clear away from Fitzsimons at the far post.
Then, Curley headed a half clearance back into the box and Creaney beat the offside trap but couldn’t prod if past the keeper from close range.
A low shot by Beestin trickled through to Sing on 10, and while the shot wasn’t any danger the move gave the Tamworth defence a reason to be active, and when the visitors countered, Tshikuna found Fitzsimons with a low drive.
Ogle was unable to get enough power on his far post header from Clunan’s cross box pass on 11, to test Singh while United had to cope with a spell of Lambs pressure as the game continued at a pace.
Acquaye and then Tshikuna made headway up field and tried to strike from distance but found their shots blocked, and Milnes was upended when he followed up the loose ball so a freekick was awarded 30 yards out which Tshikuna struck but didn’t test Fitzsimons.
As the half entered the final five minutes Willets was beaten to a head from a whipped in cross by Finn, and when the home side broke down the right, Fairlamb was penalised for tripping Butterfield so the same player took the deadball and Singh saved the downward header from Elliot well.
Milnes drilled a cross in from the right on 43 but it was cleared, and then Wilson got the better of Tonks allowing Elliot to try his luck from distance and it went well wide of the far post.
One minute additional time was shown at the end of the half and it ended all square with applause for The Lambs both on the away terrace, and resounding around the clubhouse.
HT 0-0
The home side restarted proceedings and after a spell of early second half pressure forced a corner in the right which Willets headed away and Clunan blazed his shot over the bar.
From the restart of play the ball made its way down towards Finn and when he tried to take it into the area Denton pulled him back and was immediate shown a red card. The was no penalty though, a freekick just on the edge of the D which Milnes lined up and although it struck the wall it came out and back in for Finn to head but he couldn’t get it on target and the ball rebounded off the side netting
A slip by Singh in an attempted clearance nearly let Beestin in on the edge of the area on 62 but Willets was on hand to clear the danger.
Finn then whipped the ball into the box from the right and it was just behind Creaney in the centre so a corner resulted and The Lambs kept up the pressure from the Iron’s clearance.
After a first change for the home side brining top scorer Whitehall into the fray, Willets was booked on 68 for a foul on Scales just inside the Lambs half.
Fitzsimons was called into action on 72 by a low shot at the left hand post by Acquaye, but it was easy for the keeper to smother.
The Lambs forced a right sided corner on 77 after lining up a number of shots that couldn’t see a clear pathway through and from the corner a close range header saw the ball fall invitingly for Creaney to force the ball home from 6 yards out. (0-1, 77 mins) Not only were there wild celebrations at Glanford Park, but the clubhouse erupted too, perhaps a few seconds too early when smart watches provided an update but celebrations commenced when the TV coverage confirmed the goal nonetheless.
Singh then pulled off a superb reactionary save to deny a Curley own goal on 83 minutes as although Curley had denied Whitehall a chance he had his blushes saved by his keeper when he diverted the ball into the box goalward.
Deacon replaced Tshikuna for the final couple of minutes and Fairlamb needed treatment as the clock ticked into the first of seven minutes added time.
Fairlamb was unable to continue so Cockerill-Mollett came on and The Lambs broke quickly on 94 but Ogle was quick to deny a one on one by Deacon against Fitzsimons, conceding a corner in the process which Tamworth used to their advantage and run the clock down.
Scunthorpe loaded attacks on the final third as the seconds ticked down and when Clunan headed straight at Singh it provide to be the final chance of the game and when the 100th minute started, the final whistle blew and The Lambs celebrated victory and a 12 point lead at the top of the table.
Scunthorpe United
Fitzsimons, Ogle, Kouogun, Evans, Clunan (c.), Beestin (Whitehall 66), Elliot (Kelly 57), Wilson (Sembie-Ferris 74), Butterfield, Scales, Denton
Subs: Boyce, Pugh
YC:
RC: Denton 53
Tamworth
Singh, Curley, Finn, Milnes, Fairlamb (Cockerill-Mollett 94), Acquaye, Willets, Cullinane-Liburd, Tshikuna (Deacon 88), Creaney, Tonks (Meikle 80)
Subs: Williams, Dolman
YC: Willets 68
Referee: Mr. Gareth Thomas
Assistant: Mr. Aaron Hallam, Mr. Michael Robinson
Att: 5277 (250 from TFC)
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