Tamworth
V
Wealdstone
King's Lynn Town v Tamworth
King's Lynn Town
1-1
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Tamworth
Match Report
On a gloriously sunny ‘Non League Day 2024’, supporting Prostate Cancer UK, saw Andy Peaks’ the top of the table Lambs travel to Norfolk and run out at The Walks to take on Adam Lakeland’s relegation threatened Linnets in an early, 12.30pm kick off.
However, in front of the TNT Sports TV camera’s and with a nine game unbeaten run behind them aided largely by the recent signing of erstwhile goal-getter Johnny Margetts, the hosts would be no push over in front of a largely partisan crowd.
Peaks’ Lambs had enjoyed the night together prior to the match and he made one change to the side that drew a blank with Chester, as Luke Fairlamb replaced Callum Cockerill-Mollett.
Town, in the blue with flashes of yellow, got the game underway with The Lambs, in their red shirts and black shorts, attacking the end that housed the travelling faithful, albeit only in one corner.
A slip by Fairlamb allowed the home attack to look for a way forward on 2, but The Lambs defence covered the mistake and a handball eventually ended the pressure.
Cullinane-Liburd and Milnes and Acquaye combined to force a left sided corner on 4 but it was too long for anyone in the box to reach.
Fairlamb was strong to deny Margetts a chance when the ball span through into the danger area on 6, and Milnes blocked a run and cross by Hargreaves for a Linnets corner on 7. Singh turned the flagkick into a attack by launching it long and Wreh forced his marker to put it out for a throw for Cullinane-Liburd to launch from the right but nothing came from the chance.
Acquaye’s searching run was denied by Barrows in the next move and Finn’s cross took a glance off a defenders head for another Lambs corner on the left on 11 but it was punched away by keeper Jones.
The Lambs defence with Dolman and Cullinane-Liburd, had to dig the ball out of danger on 14 when Stephen tried a low shot and at the other end Finn’s ball came back off Acquaye and dropped invitingly for Creaney but he screwed his shot high and wide when well positioned on the right of the area.
A foul on Acquaye on the left set Milnes up with the dead ball on 19 and it was headed behind for a flagkick but a foul stopped further play.
Margetts and Fairlamb tanged in the area on 22 and from the ensuing play Acquaye was upended on the left again by Barrows. Milnes delivered the deadball but the Linnets defended strongly once again.
A shot on the turn in the right of the area by Devonport brought an anticipatory sign from the home faithful on 30, but his effort rolled out past the far post without troubling Singh and Tamworth countered with Milnes striking low and earning a corner via a blocking defensive boot but the flag kick dropped onto the top of the net.
Singh was forced to leave his area to get in the way of a hopeful Margetts run on 34, managing to head it clear.
Margetts then made some headway down the left and crossed for Stephens but he was unable to cause any problems with his cross back into the box.
The Lambs first attempt on target came on 36 via the head of Wreh who forced Jones into a low save to his right, and it came thanks to persistence from Creaney and Acquaye on the edge of the box, however the final header had the direction, but lacked power.
Under pressure on the Linnet’s right and with the crowd on his back Dolman put the ball out for a throw by the corner flag on 42 and there were shouts from the terraces, but not his teammates, for a home penalty on 44 when Margetts went down under a challenge by Curley, but the referee was having none of it.
Sundire was upended on the left as 1 minute added time was shown, and Milnes loaded the deadball but when Cullinane-Liburd received it at the back of the box he was unable to get his cross back into the danger area and the whistle blew on a goalless first half.
HT 0-0
After a sudden downpour saw fans of both sides go in search of cover, The Lambs restarted proceedings and took the lead within the first minute. A cross field ball from Creaney found Finn and he fired low from 20 yards and into the back of the net with the assistance of a deflection to take it past Jones. (0-1, 46 mins)
Tamworth continued to play on the front foot with Acquaye firing wide from the left channel on 47 and Milnes chasing the ball down for a corner on the left on 49
Acquaye was booked for a challenge in the centre circle on 53, and the sun returned as play stopped following an injury to Coulson which meant he had to leave the field and Dolman needed treatment on the hour, giving both sides a chance to replenish their water supplies once again and Dolman was booked shortly before being replaced by Gascoigne on 64.
A Linnets corner from the right on 65 was headed goalward by Margetts and Creaney denied him the equaliser with a flying defensive header off the line.
McFadden was penalised for a pull on Acquaye on the left on 67 so Milnes loaded the freekick once again but it was headed away and Barrows received the ball on the right on 73 and cut it back into the area with Stephens and Margetts in close proximity, but Cullinane-Liburd was well positioned and cleared the danger.
Stephens, trying to get out of midfield, was then pulled back by Sundire who earned a booking for his efforts, but the King’s Lynn attack broke down when McFadden fouled in the ensuing play and was also booked.
Barrows then tried an effort from distance on 76 and fired straight down the barrel into Singh’s arms.
And he was in action again when a Gascoigne mis-clearance fell to substitute Cybulksi on 80 but his shot was easy enough for the keeper to smother.
Williams replaced Acquaye for the final ten minutes of the game and the home side pushed upfield with every chance, Cybulski forcing a corner on the left on 82 which took it’s time to be taken and in the end floated high and out of play.
Singh had to be quick to get to the ball before Devonport in the next move, after a low pass skipped through the Lambs high back line and the Linnets midfielder found a way through.
Singh was booked for time wasting on 86, and the fourth official called the referee over to the home bench too, resulting in a booking for the Linnets management.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, Tonks replaced Wreh, and when play restarted Devonport took the ball from the left and fired it into the danger area, and The Lambs defence couldn’t stop it squeezing into the back of the net to level the tie (1-1, 89 mins)
Six minutes added time was shown at the end of the second half and when Curley laid the ball off for Tonks he tried a shot from 20 yards but curled it over the target.
Sundire got away into the right of the final third and floated a teasing cross into the box but Jones got to it first as the clock ticked into the seventh minute and the full time whistle blew and the gap at the top extended to 14 points over second place, with five games to play (seven each for the 3pm kick off chasing pack of Scunthorpe and Chester).
TEAMS
King’s Lynn Town
Jones, Barrows, McFadden, Taylor, Coulson (c.) (Rogers 90+6), Hargreaves, Morrison, Crowe, Stephens (Cybulski 77), Devonport, Margetts
Subs: Hughes, Dixon-Hodges, Walker
YC: McFadden 75
Tamworth
Singh (c.), Curley, Fairlamb, Dolman (Gascoigne 64), Cullinane-Liburd, Milnes (c.), Sundire, Wreh (Tonks 88), Creaney, Finn, Acquaye (Williams 81)
Subs: Deacon, Tshikuna
YC: Acquaye 53, Dolman 64, Sundire 74, Singh 86
Referee: Mr. Constantine Hatzidakis
Assistant: Mr. Craig Charles, Mr. Dario Matthewson
4th Official: Ashley Tyne
Att: 1227
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