Tamworth Men's Firsts Vs Berkswell & Balsall Common

Tamworth Men’s First XI took all three points with a 3-2 win from a tightly contested game away to Berkswell and Balsall Common on Saturday.  Tamworth knew that they needed to get off to a better start than they had in recent weeks and both sides looked up for a battle in the opening exchanges.  Despite this it was Berkswell who opening the scoring when a well worked move down the left resulted in a neat deflected effort finding its way into the Tamworth net.  This didn’t deter Town and the visitors levelled the score midway through the half when from the second phase of a penalty corner Andy Parker played the ball back into the D and Ryan Brisco was on hand to lift the ball over the stricken keeper.  The home side continued to create chances and throughout the game James Miles was the star man for Tamworth, repeatedly keeping shots out in a sublime goalkeeping performance.  When Tamworth did get forward they carried a threat and should have taken advantage from a series of penalty corners which were well defended by Berkswell.  Eventually Town were able to take the lead before the break with Ben Popple breaking down the right hand side, his cut back was touched on by Tom Hancox and Tom Sperrink was left at the back post to slap into the corner.  It could have been even better at the break as Sperrink was denied twice from close range before blazing wide with teammates better placed as Tamworth settled for a 2-1 half time lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first with Berkswell having greater possession but Tamworth continuing to pose a threat on the counter.  Once again the hosts opened the scoring with another deflected effort but Tamworth retook the lead soon after.  Ian Wagstaff played the ball into Sperrink who squirmed his way into the D and when his tame shot was saved Tom Hancox continued his scoring form of recent weeks to pounce on the rebound and force the ball under the keeper.  Hancox was unfortunate to see a late reverse stick effort slide wide but in an excellent all round team performance the last word goes to the defensive work of James Griffin, Tom Grimshaw and Louis March who, along with Miles in goal, put in a wonderful rear guard display to maintain Tamworth’s lead and take three points, continuing a fine start to this new season.