Tamworth 4 – 1 Wealdstone

Match Report from the Tamworth FC Website

Tshikuna double helps Lambs do the double over Stones!

After the 3-2 away victory over bottom club Ebbsfleet, Andy Peaks Lambs returned to the Compare The Build Stadium to welcome Wealdstone for the first time since a meeting in the FA Cup in the late 1987s which will always be remembered for a spectacular goal by Andy Maddocks for the then lowly Lambs in the 2-0 giant killing win.

With Milnes making his 100th appearance for Tamworth, Peaks made one change to the starting eleven from the weekend, with Nathan Tshikuna coming into midfield for Arjan Raikhy as The Lambs went in search of a similar result to that recorded at Grosvenor Vale a few weeks prior. Meanwhile, Neil Gibson’s side came to the game on the back of three straight wins, which had pulled them up to the edge of the relegation zone ahead of kick off.

The visitors got the game underway attacking the Castle End in the first half but it was The Lambs who pushed forwards first with Creaney flicking on for Maher forcing a throw which Tonks launched into the box, but a foul on Gunter halted proceedings.

Another Tonks throw from the right on 8 provided an opportunity for Tshikuna at the far post but his snapshot, at the second attempt was well blocked by the keeper and cleared before Hollis could swing a boot at it.

Milnes, who had gone down under a challenged early in the half which left his head ringing, needed further treatment on the field on 17 and was unable to continue, with Sundire coming on for Milnes a minute or three later.Cockerill-Mollett blocked Hutchinson’s attempted cross on 23 and Kretzschmar’s volley was similarly blocked by Tonks from the resulting throw as The Lambs were forced to deal with the first pressure from the visitors.

The presence of Creaney bearing down on him, forced Gunter to put the ball out for a Tonks throw on 28 but the Stones broke with Hutchinson crossing low across the box although it was untouched by anyone and skipped out for a throw.

A drive from Tshikuna in the right channel on 30 forced Gunter to parry his on target low effort and Creaney was nearby but not quite in the right place to follow up the rebound, and the keeper was perfectly positioned to deny Maher’s angled strike with his feet, on 32.

Tshikuna then spotted the top corner was available for target practise on 33 and curled his effort towards the top left but Gunter pushed it away for a corner, and Creaney’s far post header was blocked and cleared. Maher was bundled down on the left corner of the area on 43 by Cook to set up Maher with the deadball which was nearly finished by Hollis and then Creaney, but was eventually sent over the bar for a right sided corner. But before it could be taken and after discussion with the fourth official, Gibson was booked for comments from the bench.Five minutes added time was shown at the end of the half, and the corner came back out to McGlinchey but he blazed his shot over the target.

Eastmond was then booked for reacting to a foul made on Tonks by a teammate, elsewhere on the field and play was halted when a foul from a Tonks throw saw two Wealdstone players hit the deck.

HT: 0-0

The Lambs restarted the game, but Wealdstone were reduced to ten men less than 30 seconds after the match restarted, jumping recklessly into Sundire earning himself a second yellow card for an early bath.In response, a double but tame strike by McGlinchey and Sundire, both from the edge of the area just skipped past the hopeful diverting boot of Creaney on 49 for a goalkick.

But the home fans didn’t have to wait long for the opening goal when Crompton span the ball into the area from the right channel and Tshikuna met it at the far post to knock it home (1-0, 51 mins)

And then, from the next move McGlinchey received the ball in the box and was upended by Hutchinson for a penalty, the Wealdstone player earning himself a booking in the process, allowing Tshikuna to double the advantage with a low spot kick (2-0, 54 mins)

Crompton picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge on Boldewijn as he tried to get into the area from the left on 59 and Wealdstone made a couple of changes in a bid to mix things up for the final half hour.Maher was set up by Tshikuna on 62 and struck low into the arms of Gunter and Creaney glanced header from a McGlinchey centre on 67 but his on target nod didn’t test the keeper too much.

However, Creaney was clinical with his finish from 12 yards from Cockerill-Mollett’s centre on 71 to extend The Lambs lead and bag his 98th Tamworth goal in the process (3-0, 71 mins) Maher’s cross from the right was touched away from the intentions of Tshikuna on 73, for a left sided corner which was halted for a foul, and Enoru replaced McGlinchey before play resumed.

Singh was forced into action on 75 when substitute Ashford glanced a header towards the far post and the keeper pushed it away from danger to preserve the clean sheet,

Tamworth kept possession for the most part as the clock ran down doing their best to force the Blues back, and a Creaney strike from the left was bundled behind for a left sided corner on 87.Ashford was booked for an elbow Sundire on the halfway line, which left the midfielder needing treatment on the field, and from the freekick, Tshikuna allowed the ball to bounce in the area before rifling a shot over the corner far of the goal.

Six minutes added time was displayed on the electronic board by the fourth official at the end of the 90 minutes, and Creaney diverted a Finn cross high and wide of the mark on 93.And he turned provider on 94 for the fourth goal knocking the ball unselfishly on for Fletcher to take into the area and place past Gunter with great composure. (4-0, 90+4 mins)

There was still time for a dangerous freekick for the Stone when Hollis brought Reid down on the edge of the area inside the D, setting up Georgiou with the dead ball and he curled it up and over the wall into the back of the net despite Singh getting a hand to it (4-1, 90+6 mins)

Tamworth:Singh, Crompton (Fletcher 68), Digie, Hollis, Cockerill-Mollett, Milnes (Sundire 20), Tonks (Raikhy 83), Tshikuna, McGlinchey (Enoru 74), Maher (Finn 78), CreaneySubs: Cullinane-Liburd, PonticelliYC: Crompton 59, Hollis 90+5RC: (none)

Wealdstone: Gunter, Cook, Boldewijn, Eastmond, Kretschmar, Obiero (Dyer 50), Hutchinson (Georgiou) 61), Mariappa (c.), Reid, Grant, Sohna (Ashford 61)Subs: Sekyere, McAvoy, Baptiste, Berkeley-AgyeponeYC: Eastmond 45+3 and 46, Hutchinson 53, Cook 54

RC: Eastmond 46

Referee: Mr. James BancroftAssistants: Mr. Jason Roberts, Mr. Jordan Brooks4th

Official: Mr. Jake AllsoppAttendance: 866 (138 away)