Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Market Harborough

Tamworth Men's First XI got their league season off to the perfect start with a 5-2 home win against Market Harborough.

Tamworth were missing a number of key defensive personnel but held strong against a well organised Harborough. Having weathered the early pressure Town opening the scoring when Ryan Brisco released Tom Sperrink to round the keeper and hit low into the backboard. Tamworth then doubled their lead when Sperrink was played in down the right wing and he crossed to Tom Hancox who controlled the ball before striking beyond the keeper. Harborough then hit back with a well worked penalty corner routine before Tamworth had a goal disallowed from a penalty corner of their own. That looked like it could be a turning point as Harborough levelled the tie almost immediately but Hancox went straight up the other end, wriggled his way into the D and slotted into the corner to give Tamworth a slender 3-2 lead at half time.

After the break the visitors pushed hard to get back into the game but thanks to the work of Andy Parker, Tom Grimshaw and Louis March they were kept out. Tamworth continued to carry a threat on the counter attack and Hancox won the ball with a high press, played Sperrink in and he lobbed the keeper. James Miles in goal then made a series of important saves including one diving stick block to maintain Town's advantage. Tamworth struck the final blow in the final stages with Ben Robins breaking away with the ball, playing Sperrink in on the left and his cross found Hancox at the far post with the keeper stranded to complete his hat trick.