Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Nuneaton

Tamworth Men’s First XI drew 5-5 in a tightly contested game action packed game that threatened to boil over.  Tamworth had a strong squad available but started cautiously and were punished early on when the Nuneaton forward broke following a loose pass at the back and Tony Banks in goal blocked off the striker as he cut back inside resulting a penalty flick which was dispatched down the middle.  Town came back at their opponents with a goal from Ian Wagstaff who exchanged a one-two with Tom Sperrink from a free hit before Wagstaff worked his way into the D and smashed a shot into the top corner.  Then came the first flash point of the game as a Nuneaton player struck out at Wagstaff when play had been stopped but this was missed by both umpires and the hosts had to regain their composure.  Unfortunately for Town it was the visitors who retook the lead with a scrappy goal when Tamworth couldn’t clear their lines.  Again Tamworth levelled the scores, this time Ryan Brisco worked some space to get a cross in and found the near post run of Tom Hancox whose sharp deflection flew in off the far post.  Nuneaton nabbed another close range goal to take the advantage into the break but Tamworth then looked to regroup knowing they had performed below their usual high standard.

Tamworth flew out of the blocks second half and after a sustained period of pressure got two goals from penalty corners to take the lead for the first time.  First Hancox and Wagstaff exchanged passes for Wagstaff to flick into the corner and this was soon followed by Wagstaff returning the favour for Hancox to drill his shot in across the face of the keeper for his sixteenth league goal of the season.  Sperrink slipped a chance just wide following a perfectly weighted pass from Hancox but Nuneaton upped their game and their direct style continued to stretch Town.  The visitors got the rub of the green as a ball bobbled around the D before falling to a Nuneaton player to convert.  Another of the ball incident raised tensions higher as Dan Phillips was hooked between his legs in a totally unprovoked off the ball assault which again went unpunished.  This seemed to disrupt Tamworth’s rhythm and when Wagstaff went to the sin bin this enabled Nuneaton to press further and take the lead for the fourth time.  Tamworth were not to be denied however and after Hancox was denied his hat trick by the post from another delfected effort Tom Sperrink claimed a point for Tamworth with a penalty corner strike to tie the game at 5-5.  The point dents Nuneaton’s promotion hopes and leaves Tamworth needing a draw to confirm promotion and a win from the title with two games remaining starting with another local derby against Atherstone next Saturday.